Kangana Ranaut Critiques Alia Bhatt’s Jigra After Modest Opening Day Performance

Kangana Ranaut recently appeared to subtly criticise Alia Bhatt's new film, Jigra. The movie, which premiered on October 11, had a modest start, earning around Rs 3.58 crore net across all languages in India on its first day, according to Sacnilk. In an intriguing Instagram story, Ranaut hinted at a broader issue without naming anyone. She stated, "When you destroy women-centric films and make sure that they don't work, they don't work, even when you make them. Read that again. Thanks." This comment has led many to speculate it was directed at Jigra due to its female-led narrative and Bhatt's significant involvement.

Jigra features Alia Bhatt as both the lead actress and producer. She plays Satya Anand, a determined sister trying to save her brother Ankur Anand, played by Vedang Raina, from a foreign prison. Directed by Vasan Bala and co-produced by Bhatt's Eternal Sunshine Productions and Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, the film also stars Manoj Pahwa and Rahul Ravindran in key roles. Despite high expectations, the film's initial box office performance received mixed reactions, sparking discussions about the commercial viability of female-centric films.

Kangana Ranaut has a history of openly criticising Alia Bhatt and her projects. Before Jigra, she targeted Bhatt's Gangubai Kathiawadi, predicting it would be a "200-crore disaster" and calling Bhatt a "romcom bimbo." Despite Ranaut's harsh words, Gangubai Kathiawadi achieved both critical acclaim and box office success. This ongoing public feud between Ranaut and Bhatt raises questions about Bollywood dynamics, especially regarding women-led films.

The exact target of Kangana Ranaut's recent remarks remains unclear—whether aimed specifically at Alia Bhatt or critiquing the industry's treatment of women-centric films. Nonetheless, her comments have sparked discussions on this topic as both industry insiders and audiences watch Jigra's performance in the coming days. Shrishti Negi, an experienced journalist with over eight years in media reporting on these developments, highlights the ongoing debate around representation and success of female-led narratives in cinema.

The interaction between Kangana Ranaut's cryptic critique and Alia Bhatt's latest film venture underscores ongoing debates within Bollywood about supporting women-centric movies. As the film industry evolves alongside its audience, how such films perform at the box office and their reception by peers will likely remain contentious topics for discussion.