Actor Bijou Thaangjam accuses makers of Alia Bhatt’s ‘Jigra’ of discrimination
Mumbai: Days after Divya Khosla Kumar accused the makers of Jigra of inflating box office figures, actor Bijou Thaangjam, known for his roles in Mary Kom and Rocketry has raised allegations of discrimination and unprofessional conduct against the film’s team.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Bijou opened up about his troubling experience with the casting team of Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala. The film, which stars Alia Bhatt and revolves around a sister’s daring jail break to rescue her brother, was released on October 11.
Bijou began his post by clarifying that his comments were not linked to the ongoing controversy over Jigra’s alleged similarity with Divya Khosla’s film Savi. “I am not here to jump on the bandwagon with the Jigra controversy over the alleged copying of Divya Khossla’s Savi,” he wrote. “But I’ve kept my experience with the team under wraps long enough. Maybe it’s time to speak up.”
The actor shared how he had auditioned for a role in Jigra and complied with multiple requests from the casting team. “Back in 2023, I was approached by their casting team. I sent in my audition tapes twice over four months. By the end of November, they confirmed I’d be shooting in December—fantastic, right? But despite that, they gave me no specific shoot dates. Instead, they booked me for the entire month of December, expecting I’d be available at a moment’s notice,” Bijou revealed.
He went on to accuse the production team of wasting his time, causing him to lose other professional opportunities. “I understand how big production houses work, and the director is undeniably talented. But the way they handled the situation was deeply unprofessional. For actors like me from the Northeast, it felt particularly dismissive—almost discriminatory.” The production team behind Jigra has yet to respond to Bijou’s allegations.
This controversy follows another claim from Divya Khosla Kumar, who accused Alia Bhatt of inflating Jigra’s box office numbers by posting images of empty theatres. Discussions around the similarity between Savi and Jigra have also added to the film’s troubles.
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Shreyas Iyer wins ICC Men's Player of the Month award
Dubai (PTI): Stylish Indian batter Shreyas Iyer on Tuesday secured the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for March after playing a stellar role in India's Champions Trophy triumph.
Iyer finished as the highest run-scorer with 243 runs during the ODI event to win the honour, overcoming competition from New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra.
"I’m truly honored to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March. This recognition is incredibly special, especially in a month where we lifted the ICC Champions Trophy — a moment I will cherish forever," Iyer said in an ICC release.
"Being able to contribute to India’s success on such a big stage is something every cricketer dreams of. I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, and support staff for their unwavering support and belief.
"A heartfelt thank you to the fans as well — your energy and encouragement keep us going every step of the way."
India thus won the award back-to-back, with Shubman Gill winning the honour for February.
Iyer helped India progress through the middle overs with his masterful stroke-play and his knack for anchoring the innings and forging crucial partnerships played a vital role in steering his side through a victorious campaign.
The 30-year-old scored 172 runs across three matches in March, averaging 57.33, with a modest strike rate of 77.47, which included some spectacular knocks.
Iyer scored 79 off 98 balls which included 4 fours and 2 sixes in a win against New Zealand in a Group A fixture of the Champions Trophy, an innings that gave India a competitive total of 250 in the first innings on a tricky pitch.
He scored 45 off 62 balls to assist in India’s victorious chase over Australia in the semi-finals and finished his tournament with a clinical 48 off 62 balls as India sealed victory over New Zealand in the summit clash.
