In a surprising turn of events, filmmaker Vasan Bala has deactivated his X account, seemingly overwhelmed by the relentless online trolling he faced after defending the box office performance of his latest release, ‘Jigra’. The controversy erupted after Vasan, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, stated that he doesn’t consider box office numbers the sole indicator of a film’s success. This statement, however, sparked a firestorm of criticism, with many labeling him arrogant for seemingly refusing to accept the film’s underperformance.
Vasan’s X account was active until yesterday, but on Sunday, it was deleted. The sudden disappearance sparked widespread speculation, with many attributing it to the intense online backlash. While Vasan had initially shared his interview defending ‘Jigra’ on the platform, social media users were unforgiving and labelled him ‘arrogant’ for not embracing the film’s failure.
The online community, however, was quick to react to Vasan’s departure, with many rushing to defend the filmmaker. A wave of support emerged, criticizing the online mob mentality that focused solely on Vasan’s stance while overlooking the broader context of the film’s promotion and its heavy reliance on Alia Bhatt’s star power. Some users pointed out that the film was heavily marketed around Alia Bhatt, and the marketing strategy may have ultimately overshadowed the filmmaker’s vision and led to unrealistic expectations.
Users also targeted Karan Johar, the film’s producer, accusing him of deflecting blame onto Vasan while taking credit for the success of his protégés when films perform well. This incident has sparked a larger debate surrounding the accountability of filmmakers in a world where box office performance is paramount and online trolling is prevalent. It raises questions about the role of social media in film promotion and the impact of online negativity on creatives. While Vasan Bala’s silence on the matter remains, the incident has undoubtedly sparked a dialogue about the complexities of filmmaking and the dynamics of online discourse in the entertainment industry.