In a dramatic turn of events within the Hindi cinema industry, actor Divya Khosla has taken to social media to accuse fellow actor Alia Bhatt of manipulating box office numbers for her latest film, Jigra. This unfolding controversy erupted when Divya shared her allegations on Instagram, suggesting that Alia engaged in unethical practices by purchasing her own film’s tickets to inflate its collection figures.
Divya Khosla, who is known for her candid remarks, used Instagram Stories on a recent Saturday to make her accusations public. She posted a photograph of an empty theatre, juxtaposed against the reported earnings of Jigra, thus questioning the credibility of the film’s financial success. This image, shared directly on her social media account, sparked debates across various platforms about the authenticity of box office collections in today’s cinema industry.
In her Instagram narrative, Divya openly criticized the high earnings that were reported, highlighting an alleged discrepancy between what was being announced and the actual situation she perceived. According to recent reports prior to Divya’s accusations, the Alia Bhatt-starrer, helmed by director Vasan Bala, has reported earning Rs 4.55 crore on its opening day in India. However, further complicating its performance at the box office is its direct clash with another film featuring talents like Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri, titled Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video. Interestingly, this competing film outperformed Jigra by earning Rs 5.71 crore on its first day.
For Alia Bhatt, these developments are particularly concerning as Jigra has marked one of her lowest openings since the 2014 release of Highway. These box office trials test both her popularity and the evolving dynamics of female-led films in Bollywood.
Jigra’s storyline revolves around a sister’s emotional and perilous quest to save her brother.
. Its promotional content, including an evocative teaser, notably features a modern rendition of the classic song Phoolon Ka Taaro Ka, vocalized by Vedang Raina. Despite rich thematic content and high production standards, these controversies cast a shadow over the film’s journey to success.
The high-profile accusations by Divya Khosla also raise broader implications for the producers behind Jigra. The film, produced by the renowned Dharma Productions, and presented by Viacom18 Studios alongside Eternal Sunshine Productions, has evidently faced significant challenges that transcend traditional competition. Co-written by Debashish Irengbam and Vasan Bala, the creative minds behind Jigra are now under a microscope not just for their storytelling prowess but also monetary transparency.
The tensions do not stop there. In what seems to be a rising tide against Jigra, there was another indirect remark made by an equally famous Bollywood figure. Just hours following Divya’s explosive post, Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken nature, posted a cryptic message on Instagram. While she did not directly reference Jigra, the timing and content of her note pointed towards the struggles of ‘women-centric cinema’ at the box office, which many interpreted as an implicit nod to the ongoing turmoil regarding Alia Bhatt’s film.
This incident accentuates an ongoing discourse within the entertainment industry, scrutinizing the viability and strategy behind women-led films in India. Are such films truly facing creative challenges, or is the issue more about systemic biases in film promotions and audience reach?
As conversations escalate on digital platforms and beyond, both Alia and the production houses have yet to make formal responses to the allegations made by Divya Khosla. The industry watchers remain keenly observant of how this high-stakes confrontation will evolve, both in terms of personal reputations and broader impacts on financial transparency in the entertainment world.
Whatever the aftermath, this saga underscores the complex web of competition, ethics, and creativity that defines modern Bollywood, a world where star power and narrative integrity must continually negotiate their coexistence amid public scrutiny.
