The much-anticipated film ‘Jigra,’ directed by Vasan Bala and starring Alia Bhatt, has been the epicenter of a series of controversies since its release on October 11. The film, which had high expectations from audiences and critics alike, opened with lukewarm box office results despite the Dussehra holiday boost. Adding to its challenges, the initial reactions and reviews have been starkly polarized. Now, director Vasan Bala is speaking out in an attempt to shed light on the various issues that have put ‘Jigra’ in the spotlight for reasons beyond its cinematic narrative.
In an exclusive interaction with The Hollywood Reporter India, Vasan Bala addressed several allegations that have surfaced in recent days. One of the notable accusations came from Divya Khossla Kumar, an actress and the wife of T-Series head Bhushan Kumar. She has openly alleged that the plot of ‘Jigra’ was plagiarized from her film ‘Savi’, which was her most recent release. Divya fueled the controversy by sharing an Instagram story with an image of ‘Jigra’ playing to an empty audience and accused the film’s team of manipulating box office figures by purchasing tickets themselves.
Responding to these serious allegations, Vasan Bala said, “Regarding the allegations of plagiarism from ‘Savi’ (2024), that film was released while we were editing ‘Jigra’. I encourage those who are interested in assessing the claims to view both films independently. I have no interest in disparaging anyone else or escalating the situation further.”
Bala also addressed the allegation of falsifying box office numbers. He commented, “As for the suggested false bookings, that issue falls under the scope of distribution processes. Personally, I do not perceive it as an opaque or nefarious matter, but anyone who is interested in delving into it is welcome to pursue an inquiry.”
Another controversy that Bala had to confront involves casting issues raised by actor Bijou Thaangjam. The North-Eastern actor publicly shared his grievances on the social media platform X, claiming he was left in professional limbo. According to Bijou, he had been informed of being selected for a role, leading to extended periods of waiting for a call to set, which never materialized. During this interlude, he reportedly had to decline several other promising opportunities.
Reflecting on this, Bijou posted, “I am familiar with the workings of large production houses.
. Despite acknowledging the director’s talent, their approach to this situation was deeply unprofessional. The manner in which actors from the Northeast like me have been treated feels not only disorganized but bordering on discriminatory. My time and prospects were compromised because the expectation was that I would stay available at any moment for their convenience.”
Director Bala, upon learning about Bijou’s experience, expressed, “I only learned about this incident today, as I neither recall seeing Bijou’s audition nor recognizing his presence in the casting process. My understanding is that he was not informed of being shortlisted officially. While it’s standard procedure to check an actor’s availability, it seems there was a communication breakdown. I consent that there is always room for more dignified handling of such situations. Should Bijou feel aggrieved, I extend my apologies. The desire to be engaged in a project is understandable, and there are valid reasons for feelings of disenchantment.”
In a direct response to Bala’s comments, Bijou countered by sharing visual evidence of his interactions with the casting team. Accompanied by a screenshot on X, he clarified, “This is a glimpse of my conversation with the casting team for transparency. Having over ten years of experience in the industry, I am well-versed with the regular disappointments actors face. Inferring my reliance as ‘assuming’ my selection is incorrect. While I have respect for your standing, my objective was to call attention to the frequent mismanagement we face.”
As these controversies continue to unravel, the film ‘Jigra’ and its creative team find themselves at a crossroads. The responses from Vasan Bala have provided some clarity, yet they also underscore the complexity and multifaceted nature of the issues at hand. Amidst the ongoing discussions and debates, ‘Jigra’ remains a subject of significant interest among audiences and industry experts alike, albeit for contentious reasons. The unfolding scenario poses a significant challenge for the film’s stakeholders as they navigate the ensuing fallout and public scrutiny.
