Dia Mirza mortgaged home, took loan to make film: ‘Paid Vidya Balan a handsome salary’

Dia Mirza, a veteran Bollywood actress turned producer, had to mortgage her home and take a bank loan to finance the production of her film Bobby Jasoos. The film, which had already been written and featured actress Vidya Balan, faced financial challenges when studios and financiers pulled out at the last minute. Undeterred, Dia took a significant personal financial risk to bring the project to life.

She paid Vidya Balan one of her career's best salaries, recognizing the crucial role she played in the film's success. Despite the financial difficulties, Dia ensured that Vidya earned her full fee, which she considered to be one of the highest she had paid. Bobby Jasoos, with a reported budget of Rs 26 crore, underperformed at the box office but eventually found success through subsequent deals, allowing Dia to recover her costs and repay her bank loan.

Dia launched Born Free Entertainment Production House with actor Zayed Khan in 2014 and later founded One India Stories LLP, focusing on women-led content.