Divya Khosla attacks Alia Bhatt’s Jigra for corporate bookings: ‘They have power and money’

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She said, “There is this one question about the Jigra thing that happened. There are certain things I feel – the moral practices especially – I think I should be using my platform and position to talk about something if it is truly wrong. God has given me that platform, and through my work I have reached here. Things have to be on merit, or where does it end?”

The actor added that people with agency in the industry seem to get away with whatever they want and said, “People do corporate bookings and buy awards, and you indulge in all of this just because you have power and money. Where do people who don’t have all that go, and what about them? It’s not just Jigra, because corporate bookings are happening in 90% of all Bollywood films. Whatever numbers are being declared, the actual collection is nowhere near that.”

Khosla said that corporate bookings can no longer be considered smoke and mirrors and that everyone in the industry, all the way to the fans, is aware of what this phenomenon is. “Everybody in the industry knows this, and I think the audience also knows. It’s very sad, and I truly believe that if something this wrong is happening, it is the time to come together as a community and address it. I think Bollywood is divided for that, and I spoke up because I felt strongly about it, and it was something which I felt was really not right.”

The whole question was born out of Divya’s criticism of corporate bookings earlier this year. She went to watch the film and posted a picture of a empty theatre, while accusing Alia and the makers of Jigra of fooling the audience. She wrote, “Went to Citi Mall PVR for Jigra show. Theatre was totally empty. All theaters going empty every where. Alia Bhatt me sach mein Bahut Jigra hai. Khud hi tickets karide aur fake collections announce kar diye (Alia Bhatt truly has a lot of heart. She bought the tickets herself and announced the collections). Wonder why paid media is silent.”

Alia Bhatt’s Jigra was directed by Vasan Bala, and its cast included Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Rahul Ravindran, Sikandar Kher, and Sheeba Aggarwal. Despite fairly positive reviews, the film failed to make a mark during its theatrical run.