Director Vasan Bala appears to have deactivated his X account amid a series of controversies surrounding his latest release, Jigra. Starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina and produced by Dharma Productions, the action thriller didn't perform well both commercially and critically after it released on October 11 alongside Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, a comedy starring Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri. ‘Jigra’ Movie Review: Alia Bhatt’s Committed Performance Helps Vasan Bala’s Prison-Break Thriller Sail Through Its Hiccups (LatestLY Exclusive).

When one searches for Bala's profile with @Vasan_Bala as the handle name on X, a message stating "This account doesn't exist. Try searching for another" appears. Just a day ago, the director -- also known for Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota and Monica, O My Darling - was actively sharing posts and replying to comments on X. Jigra has been embroiled in a series of controversies even before it hit the theatres.

Vasan Bala Deactivates His X (Previously Twitter) Handle

Screenshot of Vasan Bala's X Handle

In a pre-release interview, Bala said he was "really not happy" when producer Karan Johar forwarded the roughly drafted script of Jigra to Bhatt via email. Soon, Johar slammed the "gore misinterpretation" of Bala's comments, urging people to read entire interviews before making "click bait assumptions".

Days later, Dharma Productions unanimously decided not to organise pre-release screenings for its upcoming films, calling it a "necessary step" to maintain a level of excitement in the movie-watching experience. Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla To Acquire 50% Stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions; Billionaire Businessman To Invest INR 1000 Crore.

There was also a claim of plagiarism against the film by actor Divya Khosla Kumar, who alleged that Jigra, a jailbreak drama, resembled the plot line of her last film Savi. Bijou Thaangjam, an actor hailing from Manipur, accused the casting team of Jigra for "unprofessional behaviour".