Imphal: Manipur actor Bijou Thaangjam, known for his roles in films like Mary Kom and Shivaay, has criticized the casting team of Alia Bhatt’s upcoming film Jigra for what he describes as unprofessional and dismissive behavior.
Thaangjam took to his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to share his experience, alleging that the casting process was disorganized and left him feeling “almost discriminatory.”
Thaangjam recounted how he had been approached by the Jigra casting team in 2023 to audition for a role. Despite sending audition tapes twice over the span of four months and being told that he would shoot in December, he never received a concrete schedule.
He claimed the team booked his availability for the entire month but failed to make necessary travel arrangements, despite him being based in Imphal, Manipur.
“I lost out on other projects because I was sitting around, waiting for them to give me the go-ahead,” Thaangjam said, expressing frustration over being kept in the dark throughout the process.
The actor emphasized that, as someone from Northeast India, the treatment he received felt particularly dismissive, highlighting the challenges faced by actors from underrepresented regions.
He added that he missed other opportunities while waiting for the project to materialize, only to be left without communication from the casting team.
Jigra has faced other controversies, including backlash over Bhatt’s casting and concerns raised by actor Divya Khosla Kumar, who suggested that the film’s plot closely resembled her last movie, Savi.
Thaangjam’s post has sparked conversation about the challenges faced by regional actors in Bollywood, with many supporting his call for more respectful treatment within the industry.
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