Alia Bhatt stars in Vasan Bala’s Jigra, which faces low box office returns and controversies.
Amid Jigra’s flop verdict, questions swirl about its budget, Alia Bhatt’s fees, and the controversy over alleged plot similarities with Divya Khosla Kumar’s Savi.
Alia Bhatt’s latest release, Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala, has found itself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Since its release, Jigra has been the subject of more controversy than acclaim. From its dismal box office performance to allegations of plagiarism, the film is facing scrutiny from all sides. Amid all this, let’s take a closer look at the budget of Jigra and Alia Bhatt’s fees for the movie, which she has co-produced with Karan Johar under his Dharma Productions.
Budget and Cast Fees
As Jigra struggled to make an impact at the box office, the film’s budget has become a topic of heated discussion. As per a report in Bollywood Hungama, Jigra is made on a budget of Rs 80 crore, and another Rs 10 crore was allotted to the print and publicity. Unfortunately, due to ongoing controversies and a lukewarm audience reception, the film appears unlikely to recover its investment. However, the report in Bollywood Hungama claimed, “The entire sum of Rs 90 crore have been recovered by Dharma with sale of digital and satellite rights. Every penny of money that the film earns from music rights and theatrical will be a profit for Dharma,” a trade source told the portal.
Alia Bhatt’s pay-check is reportedly within the Rs 10 to Rs 15 crore range, reflecting her status as one of Bollywood’s top stars, according to a report in Republic World.com. However, with the film’s total earnings currently underwhelming, the fate of the other cast members’ fees remains unclear.
Jigra’s Box Office Struggles
The film opened to a mere Rs 4.25 crore on its first day, marking the lowest opening for an Alia Bhatt-led film in a decade. This initial figure is particularly disappointing considering the timing of its release during the Dusshera holiday. While festive releases often generate large box office numbers, Jigra failed to draw significant crowds.
After five days, the film’s total domestic collection stands at around Rs 19.35 crore, with a modest Rs 1.1 crore on its fifth day. These figures suggest the film is unlikely to achieve break-even, leading to speculation about the reasons behind its lackluster performance.
Controversy Surrounding Jigra
In addition to its poor box office performance, Jigra has found itself embroiled in multiple controversies. One of the most prominent allegations is that the film’s storyline bears a striking resemblance to Divya Khosla Kumar’s Savi. The plot of Savi revolves around a wife’s efforts to rescue her husband from a high-security prison, drawing inspiration from the mythological tale of Savitri and Satyavan.
Fans and critics alike have noticed similarities between the two films, with Jigra focusing on a sister’s journey to save her brother from prison. This has led to accusations of plagiarism. However, the filmmakers behind Jigra are yet to respond to these claims.
Plot and Storyline
Jigra follows the journey of Satya, played by Alia Bhatt, as she fights to free her brother Ankur, portrayed by Vedang Raina, from a wrongful conviction and death row.
