Director Vasan Bala has deleted his X account (formerly Twitter) just days after facing backlash for defending his film Jigra, which has struggled at the box office. Previously active on the platform, Bala’s account now displays a “This account doesn’t exist” message.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he stated that he does not view box office earnings as a measure of success. This perspective sparked outrage among some users, who labeled him “arrogant” for dismissing audience feedback.
Jigra has been surrounded by controversy even before its release. Bala expressed dissatisfaction when producer Karan Johar forwarded an early draft of the script to actress Alia Bhatt. In response, Johar criticized what he termed a “gross misinterpretation” of Bala’s comments and urged the public to read entire interviews before forming opinions.
Following the negative reception, Dharma Productions announced it would not host pre-release screenings for upcoming films to maintain excitement in the viewing experience. The film also faced criticism from actress Divya Khossla, who alleged similarities to her previous work, and actor Biju Thaangjam, who accused the casting team of unprofessionalism.
Jigra faced competition from Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri’s Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, which, despite its own lackluster performance, outperformed Jigra. As of now, Jigra has grossed approximately ₹23.60 crore in its first eight days.