Director Vasan Bala has reportedly deactivated his Twitter account following a wave of online criticism after the disappointing box office performance of his film Jigra, which stars Alia Bhatt. The film, co-produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, struggled to make a mark, earning around ₹20 crore within the first week of release, far below expectations for such a high-profile project.

Vasan Bala's Twitter account was deactivated on Sunday after it had been active just the day before. His preceding tweets received only blank spaces in reply. "This post is from an account that no longer exists," was the only text on the message. His account's landing page is currently blank as well.

Social media users speculated that the removal was likely made when the director faced backlash for standing up for Jigra. In a discussion with The Hollywood Reporter India, Vasan defended the movie and posted it on X. The filmmaker was called "arrogant" in the replies to that tweet, though, for not owning up to the movie's failure.

The online backlash intensified as fans expressed disappointment in the movie's underperformance and marketing. Karan Johar's involvement has also come under scrutiny, with some questioning his production strategies and promotional efforts, as the film had significant expectations attached to it due to Alia Bhatt's star power and Johar’s reputation.

Despite the negativity, Johar has publicly shown support for Vasan Bala, assuring that he has the director's back during these challenging times. This gesture, however, has not entirely quelled the social media storm, as discussions about the film's failure continue, with debates on both the content and its handling by Dharma Productions.

The deactivation of Bala's social media suggests the toll the controversy has taken on the filmmaker, reflecting the intense pressure and criticism that Bollywood directors often face when a project fails to meet audience expectations.