Vasan Bala’s latest release, Jigra, featuring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina, has garnered significant attention for all the wrong reasons ahead of its theatrical release on October 11. From the cancellation of press screenings by producer Karan Johar to accusations of box office rigging from Divya Khossla Kumar, the film has been discussed more for its controversies than its storyline.
In a recent press note, Dharma Productions announced the end of pre-release screenings, citing the need to combat corruption among certain film critics. An insider suggested that financial transactions occur during press shows, influencing reviews, with some influencers reportedly charging between ₹15,000 to ₹60,000 for favorable critiques.
The film faced further scrutiny when Divya Khossla Kumar shared an image of an empty theater on social media, alleging that Alia was faking box office collections. Karan Johar responded with a message emphasizing that “silence is the best speech you will ever give to fools,” while Kumar countered with her own statements on the truth being offensive to those opposed to it.
Kangana Ranaut also weighed in with a cryptic message about the fate of women-centric films, adding to the film’s ongoing drama.
Despite the surrounding controversies, Jigra experienced a disappointing opening, collecting only ₹4.55 crore in India and ₹7.45 crore worldwide on its first day. Although it saw a slight increase on Saturday with earnings of ₹6.55 crore, bringing the total to ₹13.20 crore in India and ₹17.20 crore globally, these figures fall short compared to Alia’s previous solo hits, which typically opened at ₹7.5-10.5 crore.
In Jigra, Alia portrays Satya, who fights for her brother Ankur’s (Vedang Raina) freedom after he is imprisoned and sentenced to death. As the drama unfolds, the film’s box office performance remains a topic of discussion amid its controversies.
