When you think about it, the year 2007 seems like a lot longer ago than it really was. Hindi film love dramas were not the exception, Facebook was still a foreign idea, and Virat Kohli had just graduated from high school. This was the environment in which "Life in a Metro" was published, and it went on to become one of the most popular films in the genre. It took 18 years for director Anurag Basu to create its "spiritual successor," Metro In Dino (stylized as Metro...In Dino).

"I never intended to name this Metro."

Similar to its predecessor, the movie is a collection of related stories that explore themes of love in urban centers. The director replies honestly as we begin discussing Metro In Dino: "I never intended to call this Metro," but then adds, "But the DNA of the story is the same." As a result, it was logical.

Although the globe may have changed since 2007, Anurag asserts that "romance stays the same, emotion stays the same." However, he has developed as a filmmaker. "In Life in a Metro, there is a scene that people have loved. However, I wouldn't do it the same way now. The way I tell stories in this city is quite different from how I did it in my previous movies," he says.

The director is well-known for working with actors and crew members repeatedly. After working on Life in a Metro, Konkona Sen Sharma is now a member of Metro In Dino. Additionally, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Pankaj Tripathi all make a comeback following Ludo. However, his most successful partnership may be with Pritam, the composer who has created the music for each of his works. During the movie's song launch event, he said, "Music is crucial to my films. I work on the music before the shoot begins, sometimes during the scripting phase." The fact that his creative process has a gap the size of a KK. Before his tragic passing in 2022, the late vocalist had performed the majority of the iconic tunes from his films.

There will never be a replacement for KK

When asked about the "KK-sized hole" in his life and films, Anurag answers poignantly, "It will never get filled, actually." Because each vocalist has a unique voice, it's challenging to make a comparison. Over time, Pritam's songs and compositions somehow found the ideal complement in KK. The first vocalist you think of when you hear Pritam's music is KK. Even now, Pritam would write a song, and we would think about who could perform it, and KK would come to mind.

Since the publication of Life in a Metro 18 years ago, there have been additional changes, such as the introduction of streaming services and a shift in audience viewing habits following the COVID-19 epidemic. For a long time, it has been claimed that audiences are no longer flocking to theaters for 'smaller' movies in genres like comedy and romance as they once were. However, Anurag retorts, "You never know when the times will change and when the audience's tastes will change. It's really unpredictable. You can't plan the movie for the box office; you should simply follow your instincts. If a movie is made with sincerity and heart, it will succeed.

The cast of Metro In Dino includes Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta, and Anupam Kher. It is planned to be released on July 4.

Read Also: Konkona Sen Sharma Inspires Anurag Basu to Honor Irrfan Khan in "Metro In Dino"