Karan Johar backs Alpha amid trolling, praises Alia Bhatt's theatrical pull

Filmmaker Karan Johar has come out in support of Alia Bhatt's Alpha amid online trolling. He praised the actor's theatrical pull and urged audiences to celebrate big-screen cinema instead of spreading negativity.

In Short

• Karan Johar backed Alia Bhatt’s Alpha amid online trolling
• He called the film’s opening a solid start despite theatre struggles
• The filmmaker also praised Bhatt’s stardom and big-screen appeal

Filmmaker Karan Johar, on Saturday, backed actor Alia Bhatt’s latest release Alpha amid online trolling. The 54-year-old director-producer called its opening a “solid start” at a time when theatres are still struggling to draw audiences. The film, which released on July 3 as part of the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Spy Universe, has received a mixed response from critics and viewers. However, Johar said the audience response mattered more than online negativity.

In a post on Instagram Stories, Johar also praised the 33-year-old actor's “stardom and theatrical pull” as well as her “unquestionable talent”. He argued that large-scale theatrical spectacles such as Alpha should be applauded rather than met with “toxicity”.

Sharing his view on the film’s opening, Johar wrote, “When footfalls are a challenge, ALPHA takes a solid start! It emphasises many things; the audience is way above online negativity, and they are the true warriors (sic).”

He followed that with praise for Bhatt’s screen presence and the film’s big-screen ambition. “The stardom and theatrical pull and unquestionable talent of Alia Bhatt and the impact of a big screen spectacle is undebatable, and that YRF has a continued franchise and an endeavour to create theatrical tentpole experiences that need our applause and not any toxicity! (sic)” Johar wrote.

He ended his note by urging viewers to step away from constant online chatter and enjoy films in cinemas. “Please relax and celebrate that the cinemas are breathing!!! Go watch Alpha and stop doom-scrolling!! (sic)” he wrote.

Directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Aditya Chopra, Alpha follows two estranged women who are pulled back together as they uncover the truth behind the covert Operation Odyssey and confront a powerful threat. The cast also includes Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Hrithik Roshan in a special appearance. Dia Mirza also features in a key role. The film is the seventh title in the YRF Spy Universe.

Trade website Sacnilk reported that Alpha recorded a worldwide opening of Rs 16.10 crore on Friday. Of that, India contributed Rs 9.25 crore nett, with an India gross of Rs 11.10 crore, while the overseas gross stood at Rs 5 crore.

With its first-day India figure, the film went past the openings of Bhatt’s Raazi, which earned Rs 7.53 crore nett, and Jigra, which opened at Rs 5 crore. Alpha also matched Crew at Rs 9.25 crore and registered the third-best opening for a woman-led Bollywood film in India after Veere Di Wedding and Gangubai Kathiawadi. It sold 224,000 tickets on day one and recorded strong late-night occupancy in major cities.

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