New Delhi: Vasan Bala has been a director for relatively small-scale movies in the past. Alia Bhatt-starrer Jigra marked the director’s first mainstream Bollywood film. The press and hype around Jigra was immense, an emotional tale about the bond of siblings. However, after its release, box office reports suggest that Jigra was Alia Bhatt’s lowest box office opener. So, the question stands why did Jigra fail to become the blockbuster hit was expected to become?
The director deleted his X account the backlash over the Jigra Vs Savi controversy. In a conversation with Fever FM, Vasan Bala opened up about the said failure of Jigra and how he feels responsible for it. Here is what the director had to say.
Vasan Bala speaks about Jigra’s Box Office failure
In the interview, Vasan Bala said how Alia Bhatt is the biggest Bollywood actress in the current times. So, when Alia Bhatt decided to stick with Jigra instead of any other script, he feels that it was his responsibility to deliver a box office hit. As for what went wrong with Jigra, Vasan Bala explained that he is not entirely sure why Jigra failed. “Something has happened where people have stayed away, something that they have not bought, something that they didn’t feel the need to come to the theatre,” opined Vasan Bala.
Made on a reported budget of Rs 80 crore, Jigra is yet to break even or reach close to making a profit in terms of box office sales. However, a Bollywood Hungama report suggests that Dharma Production has recovered the entire budget in addition to the Rs 10 crore promotional budget. The report further states that a source claimed that Dharma recouped all its costs with the film’s earnings from music rights, the sale of digital and satellite rights and the theatrical collections.
Jigra Box Office collection
As of October 21, 2024, Jigra has earned Rs 27.32 crore in Net India collection and Rs 40.35 crore worldwide. Jigra‘s worldwide Box Office collection just scrapes through the 50% mark when compared to the budget signifies that the film is indeed a Box Office failure. The fact that despite earning half as much as the initial budget of the movie, the production house has managed to recuperate all costs thanks to its digital streaming rights, says that the OTT spaces resurgence is right around the corner.
