A fresh storm has hit Bollywood’s already turbulent debate on lobbying and gatekeeping, after actor and filmmaker Divya Khosla Kumar publicly released a phone call recording with veteran producer Mukesh Bhatt. Her post, shared on Instagram, arrives at a time when the controversy around similarities between her 2024 film Savi and Alia Bhatt’s Jigra has resurfaced online. The latest twist has now raised larger questions about power structures and factionalism in the industry.
Her caption further read, “It is time we speak up. It is time we call out the industry mafia. I will raise my voice and I will fight this out.”
Mukesh denied the claims, saying, “Neither did anyone ask me nor did I tell anyone. This is again created by people who have vested interest.” He suggested that the timing of such reports, which surfaced on Divya’s birthday, appeared deliberate. “Somebody who wants to hurt you was intentionally planning this,” he said, calling the situation “slander.”
Throughout the call, he reassured Divya of their positive work relationship during the making of Savi and advised her not to react to the controversy. “Rise above this. What matters is your and my pure relationship,” he said in the recording.
He strongly defended Alia Bhatt and criticised the idea that she would need to copy any storyline, saying she was “too big for this” and would never need to “stoop to such a level.” Reports claimed that, Divya, meanwhile, had pointed out the jailbreak elements common to both films and accused Jigra’s makers of inflating box office numbers.
Savi starred Harshvardhan Rane and Anil Kapoor and told the story of a housewife attempting to free her husband from a high security prison in the United Kingdom. Jigra centered on a sister’s effort to rescue her brother from prison, exploring themes of family and redemption.
Divya’s latest move has shifted the conversation from plot similarities to a broader critique of how the industry functions.
Divya Goes Public With Audio Clip
In her Instagram post, Divya shared the audio call, claiming she felt compelled to bring the conversation into the public domain. She wrote in her caption that she was “deeply shocked” by what she had discovered and described the situation as “disturbing and heartbreaking.” She pointed to what she called hierarchy, lobbying and gatekeeping, adding that some groups attempt to sabotage careers and suppress voices.Her caption further read, “It is time we speak up. It is time we call out the industry mafia. I will raise my voice and I will fight this out.”
What the Call Revealed
The phone call, recorded between Divya and Mukesh Bhatt, addressed recent online reports suggesting that Mukesh had spoken against her regarding the Jigra versus Savi discussion. In the clip, accessed through Divya’s Instagram post, she is heard asking him whether he had accused her of fraud or of harming Jigra’s publicity.Mukesh denied the claims, saying, “Neither did anyone ask me nor did I tell anyone. This is again created by people who have vested interest.” He suggested that the timing of such reports, which surfaced on Divya’s birthday, appeared deliberate. “Somebody who wants to hurt you was intentionally planning this,” he said, calling the situation “slander.”
Throughout the call, he reassured Divya of their positive work relationship during the making of Savi and advised her not to react to the controversy. “Rise above this. What matters is your and my pure relationship,” he said in the recording.
Background: The Savi and Jigra Dispute
According to the claims made by online reports, the conflict began months earlier when Divya alleged that Jigra, starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina, bore similarities to her film Savi. Several entertainment portals covered Mukesh Bhatt’s earlier remarks where he dismissed the allegations, calling the controversy a publicity stunt. He had said, according to the report, “What Divya did for publicity, I do not know about that,” and added that Jigra took inspiration from the Mahesh Bhatt film Gumrah.He strongly defended Alia Bhatt and criticised the idea that she would need to copy any storyline, saying she was “too big for this” and would never need to “stoop to such a level.” Reports claimed that, Divya, meanwhile, had pointed out the jailbreak elements common to both films and accused Jigra’s makers of inflating box office numbers.
Savi starred Harshvardhan Rane and Anil Kapoor and told the story of a housewife attempting to free her husband from a high security prison in the United Kingdom. Jigra centered on a sister’s effort to rescue her brother from prison, exploring themes of family and redemption.
Divya’s latest move has shifted the conversation from plot similarities to a broader critique of how the industry functions.
