'Jigra's troubles are not decreasing, actor Bijou Thangjam accuses producers of discrimination

Controversies have haunted the recently released film 'Jigra' starring Alia Bhatt. No sooner than the film reached the theatres, it topped the discussions on social media sites. First informing against story theft and then manipulating box office numbers, now an actor has alleged discrimination too as he is from the Northeast. In a shocking incident, Bijou Thangjam, who has acted in films like 'Mary Kom', 'Shivaay', and 'Rocketry', claims that the producers of the film had finalised him for a role in 'Jigra' but never contacted him once shooting started.

The actor said, "I’m not writing this with any agenda or accusations. I just want to share the reality of how actors like me from the Northeast are often treated by big production houses. Hopefully, this sheds some light on what we face."

He wrote in his ex post, 'I'm not here to jump on the bandwagon with the Jigra controversy over the alleged copying of Divya Khosla's Savi, but I've been keeping my own experience with the Jigra team under wraps for a while, and maybe it's time to speak up. Relevan Bijo ned by Just Messa ☑ Grok AajTak #LIVE Comm X Premi Profile More Back in 2023, I was approached by their casting team to audition for a role. I sent in my tapes twice over the span of four months, playing along with their timeline. By the end of November, they told me I'd be shooting in December-fantastic, right? Except they never gave me any firm shoot dates. Still, they booked me for the entire month of December, expecting that I'd be ready to shoot for them at any moment. As someone based in Imphal, Manipur, I made it very clear from the start that travel arrangements would need to be made, but that didn't seem to matter."

For instance, Bijou Thangjam said, "Throughout the month, I was left in the dark, communicating with the casting team but receiving no real updates on when I'd actually be needed. The last message I received was on December 26th, stating "Waiting for a revert," and after that-complete silence. Meanwhile, I'd lost out on other projects because I was sitting around, waiting for them to give me the go-ahead. But of course, that never came. Relevan STIBTE Bijb med by Just Grok ← Comm X Premi Profile More I understand how big production houses operate. The director is undeniably talented, but the way they handled this entire situation was deeply unprofessional. For actors like me from the Northeast, it felt particularly dismissive, almost discriminatory. My time was wasted, and I missed out on other opportunities just because they expected I'd be available at a moment's notice. may they راسل الفم It's notios #Salmank Pite from the ton Malites I'm not writing this with any agenda or accusations. I just want to share the reality of how actors like me from the Northeast are often treated by big production houses. Hopefully, this sheds some light on what we face."