New Delhi: Actor Divya Khossla has sparked a new controversy with her Insta Story criticising Alia Bhatt's recently released 'Jigra'.Divya's public clash with Karan Johar has caught everyone's attention. As comparisons were made with Savi and Jigra, Karan Johar responded to her allegations by sharing on social media, "Silence is the best speech you will ever give to fools” to which Khossla retaliated, "Truth will always offend fools opposed to it.”
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Divya Khossla shed more light on the issue and said, "Today, when I speak up, Mr Karan Johar uses derogatory language to shut me down. Is it right to call a woman a fool for pointing out unethical practices? If this happens to me, what about those new to the industry? No one is a king here, and I won’t be treated like a subject. There are many more derogatory words which were used in their PR articles, and called my taking a stand as a PR stunt. I'm sorry, I don't need one. I'm already well known."
Also Read: Divya Khossla Kumar Takes A Dig At Alia Bhatt Over Jigra Box Office Collection: ‘Khud Hi Tickets Kharide…’
On Alia Bhatt and unethical practices
Khossla's initial post targetted Alia Bhatt for allegedly benfitting from 'fake tickets bookings." She added, "Alia doesn’t need to resort to such tactics; she’s already well-established. But true heroism is in speaking against wrongdoing. Let the audience decide based on merit, not money and power.”
Khossla highlighted her concern with corporate bookings and manupilated box office numbers. "After Covid, smaller production houses have shut down, and only those with money survive. I saw an empty theatre, yet Jigra’s opening figures were inflated. That needs serious correction."
She claimed that false numbers are put out for some films. "We are creative people, we are not in a share market, and by giving fake box office numbers, certain media persons also highlight bad films. When good films work, no one talks about that. These people decide which film is will be declared a hit- as tickets are bought and fake collections are announced. And that's why only those people will be able to survive here, who have money. New talent, will never be able to enter.”
Are Jigra & Savi similar films?
Khossla has claiemd that 'Jigra is a copy' of her film, 'Savi', a jailbreak story. 'Savi' was released earlier this year, for which her team bought the rights of 'The Next Three Days'.
She noted that "both films share the same story line”, but her project “was in production first”. 'Savi' was a jailbreak story wherein a wife tries to resue her husband, jailed in a high-security prison.
She is helped by Anil Kapoor in the film. In 'Jigra', on the other hand, a sister sets out to rescue her brother, who will soon be executed, from a prison. She is helped by two other people on the day.
Mukesh Bhatt connection
Both 'Jigra' and 'Savi' have a comon link, that they have been prodcued by Alia's uncle Mukesh Bhatt. When Khossla was asked if she had discussed the similarities with him, she said, "Yes, this was clearly discussed with him, but I don't want to bring him into the picture because he's got family ties and he's 72. I have a deep and respectful relationship with him. But yes, the topic was discussed with him numerous times while shooting the film."