Alia Bhatt’s latest film Jigra has surprised audiences with its disappointing box office opening. Known as one of Bollywood's most successful actresses, Alia recorded her lowest opening day collection in the past decade with Jigra, earning just Rs 4.55 crore in India.
In comparison, the quirky comedy Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, released on the same day, outperformed Jigra by earning Rs 5.25 crore. The film’s global earnings were also underwhelming, totaling Rs 7.45 crore on its first day. Although there was a 42% increase in earnings on Saturday, with Rs 6.50 crore, this boost might not be sufficient to recover from the weak start.
Historically, Alia's films have performed better, with most of her movies crossing the Rs 7 crore mark on opening day. Films like Raazi, which opened at Rs 7.53 crore, and Gangubai Kathiawadi, which achieved Rs 10.50 crore during the pandemic, show her strong box office draw. Even her previous flops, Shaandaar and Kalank, had stronger starts at Rs 13.10 crore and Rs 21.60 crore, respectively.
Experts attribute Jigra's poor performance to a lack of commercial appeal compared to Alia’s previous hits. Unlike Gangubai Kathiawadi, which had the backing of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Jigra struggled to define its identity, wavering between being an action thriller and a family drama. This uncertainty may have confused audiences, who are less tolerant of unclear storytelling.
Without strong reviews and positive word of mouth, Jigra's future at the box office remains uncertain. Only one of Alia's films, Raazi, has rebounded from a slow opening, and it remains to be seen if Jigra can achieve similar success.
