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Dia Mirza Mortgaged Home to Produce Bobby Jasoos
Dia Mirza wanted to make a film called Bobby Jasoos.
The movie had already been written, and Vidya Balan had agreed to act in it.
But the studios and financiers who were expected to provide money backed out.
Dia still believed the film should be made, so she took a bank loan and used her home as security.
She also paid Vidya her full salary instead of asking for a discount.
The film did not earn back all its costs in theaters.
Later, other deals brought in enough money for Dia to repay the loan and free her home from the mortgage.
Dia said the experience made her proud and strengthened her friendship with Vidya.
Dia Mirza said she mortgaged her first home and took a bank loan after financiers withdrew from Bobby Jasoos.
She produced the 2014 woman-led film with Vidya Balan already attached to star.
Mirza said she paid Balan her full fee, describing it as one of the actress’s best salaries.
Bobby Jasoos reportedly cost about Rs 26 crore and earned around Rs 20 crore worldwide theatrically.
Later satellite and studio deals enabled Mirza to repay the loan and release the mortgage on her home.
- Who
- Producer and actor Dia Mirza, with Vidya Balan starring in Bobby Jasoos.
- What
- Mirza financed the film through a bank loan and a mortgage on her home after other financiers withdrew.
- Where
- The film was produced within the Bollywood film industry in India.
- When
- The film was made in 2014; Mirza later recalled the experience.
- Why
- Mirza wanted to complete the written, woman-led story despite the loss of studio and financier support.
Key facts
- Film
- Bobby Jasoos
- Producer
- Dia Mirza
- Lead actor
- Vidya Balan
- Production year
- 2014
- Reported budget
- Around Rs 26 crore
- Worldwide theatrical earnings
- Around Rs 20 crore
- Financial outcome
- Later satellite and studio deals allowed Mirza to repay her bank loan and release the mortgage.
Quotes
Dia Mirza
Actor and producer who backed Bobby Jasoos
“I mortgaged my first home that I had ever bought to be able to tell the story that I wanted to tell because the film had been written. We got these dates from an extraordinary artist who I respected and loved — Vidya Balan. The whole team had been put together. And some of Vidya’s films had worked at the box office.”
indianexpress.com
“Suddenly, studios and financers disappeared. I was like, ‘We have to make this film’ and we will make this film, and the team was like, ‘How can we make it? We don’t have money.’ So, I took a bank loan and I mortgaged my home and we made the film we wanted to make.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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