Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 6: Filmmaker Anurag Basu has opened up about the making of his 2017 film Jagga Jasoos, acknowledging its underwhelming box office performance but emphasizing the passion and sacrifices behind the project.

In an interview with Galatta Plus, Basu revealed that both he and actor Ranbir Kapoor took significant pay cuts to ensure the film’s budget remained manageable. “Ranbir cut down his fees, I cut down my fees. All of us. Because we were passionate about the project. We were not running behind money,” he said.

Despite its big names and a reported Rs 130 cr budget, Jagga Jasoos, also starring Katrina Kaif, failed to recover costs and was declared a flop. The film took nearly four years to complete and was met with mixed reviews. Ranbir’s late father, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, had openly criticised Basu, blaming him for the film's failure and poor planning.

Basu, however, stood by his commitment to responsible filmmaking. “None of my producers will ever complain. I make sure even if the film doesn’t work, nobody suffers losses. That’s my rule,” he said, adding that his latest film Metro In Dino, released on July 4, was also made with a modest budget considering its ensemble cast.

“The industry is very ruthless,” he noted, underlining the importance of balancing creative vision with financial practicality.