Alia Bhatt's Jigra struggles at the box office despite critical praise; fans theorize a 'Ranbir Kapoor Curse'

Alia Bhatt’s latest release, Jigra, has left fans divided. While the Vasan Bala directorial received praise for Alia’s performance, especially her fierce portrayal of Satya, the film has struggled to make an impact at the box office. The story revolves around Alia’s character, who embarks on a daring mission to rescue her younger brother, played by Vedang Raina, from a foreign prison. Despite the intense emotions and strong performances, Jigra collected just Rs 4.25 crore on its opening day, marking Alia’s weakest opener in the last ten years. The numbers are far from the success of her previous hits like Brahmastra and RRR.

As the film grapples with lukewarm collections, an unusual theory has emerged on Reddit, with netizens blaming what they call the "Ranbir Kapoor curse." According to some social media users, Alia’s underwhelming box office performance could be linked to her actor husband, Ranbir Kapoor. One Reddit user humorously commented, “She got the Ranbir Kapoor curse… previously experienced by his exes.” Another added, “That man really is a panauti (bad luck) for his girlfriends and wife. Good luck, Alia!”

This quirky theory draws comparisons to Ranbir’s past relationships with other Bollywood actresses. Internet users claimed that Ranbir’s ex-girlfriends, like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif, experienced professional slumps during their time with him. After breaking up with Ranbir, both actresses saw a resurgence in their careers—Deepika with Cocktail and Katrina with Zero. One Redditor pointed out, “Deepika had a few low films while dating Ranbir, but after the breakup, her career soared. The same happened with Katrina.”

While the Reddit thread has gone viral with these amusing patterns, fans also acknowledge that the box office performance of Jigra is likely influenced by other factors, including competition and market conditions.

On a personal note, Alia and Ranbir’s love story began during the shooting of Brahmastra, their first film together. The couple fell in love on set and tied the knot shortly before the movie’s release. Incidentally, Brahmastra went on to win three National Awards, solidifying their professional partnership as well.

As the debate continues online, Alia Bhatt remains in the spotlight for her powerful acting, even if Jigra’s box office performance has sparked some unusual conversations.