‘What kind of monopoly is this?’: Netizens grill Alia Bhatt’s Filmfare win for Jigra, call it ‘pure nepotism energy’

Alia Bhatt’s win of the Best Actress award for Jigra at the 70th Filmfare Awards has sparked a wave of criticism online, with many social media users accusing the awards of bias and “contrived fact-checking”. The actress, who did not attend the ceremony, became the actress who won the most awards in the Best Actress category after this win.

The Filmfare Awards ceremony, held on Saturday at EKA Arena, Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad, was hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Manish Paul. Laapataa Ladies won the Best Film award, taking home 13 awards, matching Gully Boy’s record.

Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor (Male) award, while Karan Johar accepted Alia’s award on her behalf. Shortly after the results were announced, social media was filled with reactions.

“What kind of monopoly is this? It’s no longer about nepotism – it’s just greed and desperation to keep the same face,” one user wrote.

But others questioned the credibility of the win, describing it as part of a “carefully manufactured image.” One user said: “Alia is in desperate need of validation, because deep down she knows nothing about her stardom, and feels like she has deserved everything. Everything – her wins, her films, her endless PR efforts – has been orchestrated.”

Amid the controversy, Alia Bhatt shared a heartfelt message on Instagram expressing her gratitude for the recognition.

“This will always remain closest to my heart, not only because of the story we told, but also for the amazing people who gave it life,” she wrote. She thanked director Vasan Bhalla for his vision and co-stars Vedang Raina, Vivek Gomber, Manoj Pahwa, Rahul R, Yuvraj Vijan and Dhir Hira for the “honesty they brought to every frame”.

She also expressed her appreciation to Filmfare for the honor and to the fans who “found a part of themselves in this film”. Reflecting on her journey, Alia added: “I wish I could have been there to experience that moment in person, but my heart is full nonetheless.” She described the collaboration with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Grish1234, and her Eternal Sunshine Production company as a “perfect moment”, and thanked her sister Shaheen Bhatt for being “calm through it all”.