Alia Bhatt fans are waiting for Jigra, the action-thriller the actress’ studio Eternal Sunshine Productions has co-produced with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions that releases next Friday. This is an artiste not content to rest on her Best Actress National Award (Gangubai Kathiawadi, 2022) and the Filmfare Best Actress Awards for Udta Punjab (2016), Raazi (2018), Gully Boy (2019), Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), but who wants to carve a new niche for herself by turning producer of absolute content-driven cinema. Somewhere down the line, she has a female-led spy thriller titled Alpha in the making and, God willing, an epic Sanjay Leela Bhansali saga opposite husband Ranbir Kapoor called Love & War, and also an untitled love story to look forward to. Right now, everybody’s focus is on Jigra. It is Alia back on screen after Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in July 2023.      

Her work has been proof that Alia is keen on picking up stories that would work well with the masses and have notable content. Her production debut Darlings displayed her keen eye for compelling narratives. A dark comedy in which she played the lead role and won the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress in a Web Original Film (2022), Darlings explored the sensitive issue of domestic abuse with a touch of humor and received critical acclaim and success. Alia ditched a theatrical release for her first production and chose to release it on OTT, proving how strategic she is with money. The web film resonated with the audience emphasizing her commitment to producing content that promotes change.

For the second co-production, Poacher, that tackled urgent issues of wildlife conservation and interwove a gripping story with a powerful message, Alia joined Amazon Prime Series. Poacher showed Alia as a producer unafraid of dealing with complex themes. It reached out to audiences beyond Bollywood’s regulars, and garnered praise for its storytelling 

Jigra, which opens in cinemas on October 11, continues her streak of innovative storytelling. Starring Alia and Vedang Raina, it highlights an emotional and heartwarming tale of siblings set against a jail escape plan. This is her first co-production with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions which has been entertaining audiences with a wide and exciting range of content over the years. In respect of Alia’s consummate skills in the film industry, Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment came on board as co-producer for Darlings. This girl is going places. And she’s only just got started. There is high anticipation for Jigra. Trade sources know that by embracing new and diverse stories and using her platform to bring them to life, Alia is not only expanding her own horizons but also inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and storytellers in the industry.