As Alia Bhatt’s latest film Jigra faces backlash for its underwhelming box office opening and cancelled press screenings, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has come forward with praise for the film and Bhatt’s performance. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Samantha lauded Alia for her “brave choices” and also appreciated the film’s director, Vasan Bala, and her co-star Vedang Raina.
Samantha’s Tribute to the Cast and Crew
Samantha shared a poster of Jigra featuring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina, praising Alia’s intense performance. “@aliaabhatt you tigress! A performance so feisty and throbbing with life that I couldn’t take my eyes off you! The brave choices you make… the standards you set for yourself,” Samantha wrote. She added fire and flexed bicep emojis to emphasise her admiration for Alia’s fearless decisions.
Samantha also praised director Vasan Bala, saying, “@vasanbala you’ve made a film so unique and you’ve really pushed the envelope with how to present a female lead! Thank you!” She called Vedang Raina “a talent” to watch, specifically pointing out a powerful scene involving lashings, which left her gasping. “So visceral,” she wrote.
She further extended her appreciation to the rest of the film’s cast and crew, including Rahul, Manoj, and the late actor Vivek. “Superb performances from everyone,” she noted, adding a special mention for the film’s music composer Achint Thakkar, whose score she said will live “rent-free” in her head for a long time.
Divya Khossla’s Criticism of Jigra
Despite Samantha’s glowing praise, Jigra hasn’t escaped criticism. Actor Divya Khossla recently accused Alia Bhatt of inflating the film’s box office numbers. On her Instagram Stories, Divya shared a picture of an empty theatre at Citi Mall PVR and questioned the reported earnings. She suggested that Alia had purchased tickets herself to boost collections and criticized the media for not addressing this.
Box Office Struggles
Jigra, which opened on Friday, has had a slow start at the box office. According to Sacnilk.com, the film has earned ₹16.6 crore so far, marking Alia’s lowest opening since Highway in 2014. The film, produced by Dharma Productions and presented by Viacom18 Studios and Eternal Sunshine Productions, follows the story of a sister’s quest to save her brother.
Samantha’s Support in Hyderabad Promotions
Before the film’s release, Samantha had joined Alia at a promotional event in Hyderabad. Alia, appreciative of Samantha’s resilience, had even requested filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas to cast them together. Alia’s rendition of Samantha’s hit song “Oo Antava” from Pushpa also captured attention at the event.
