Showing posts with label Metro...In Dino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metro...In Dino. Show all posts
How this murder convict hid for 12 years on silver screen
11:01 AM
Hemant Modi was arrested last week from Ahmedabad. He’d jumped parole in 2014 and spent over a decade acting in everything from commercials to films starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh
Ashish Chauhan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; May 26, 2026)
For 12 years, Hemant Modi kept performing without a pause. What he did on camera not only paid his bills, it also kept him out of jail. From Ahmedabad’s stages to Mumbai’s film sets, he had a dozen names. Spandan Kumar one day. Spandan Modi the next. Twinkle Dave, when he wanted to sound like a star. He chased auditions, sent portfolios to producers, took any role anyone would give him.
What none knew was that Hemant Modi was a murder convict who had in 2014 walked out of prison on a 30-day parole and never returned. Since then, the parole jumper is said to have acted in six Hindi films, one South Indian production, 10 Gujarati films, 27 TV commercials, 26 stage dramas, more than 3,000 stage shows, and 14 short films. He ran a YouTube channel, Amdavadi Uncle, on which he uploaded audition videos. He even put up performance clips on Instagram.
Playing innocent
Police also got a taste of his acting chops, when they finally turned up to arrest Modi from a rented house in Ahmedabad’s Gheekanta area on May 20. The 54-year-old, cops say, nearly convinced them that they had got the wrong man.
“When we approached him, he behaved like a law-abiding citizen, politely objecting to his arrest in a manner that even had us confused for some time. He spoke calmly and confidently, there was no panic in him. We wondered whether we were arresting the wrong person,” said a senior police officer.
Modi ended up in jail over a 2005 dispute involving neighbours that was related to a staircase and common passage in Naroda’s Parshwanath Township. When an argument took a violent turn, Narendra alias Nanno Kamble, was attacked with swords, iron pipes and baseball bats. Modi and six others were found guilty for the killing in 2008 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Two years later, Modi’s marriage ended.
He was lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail. But after he reportedly witnessed the murder of gangster Chetan Patel alias Chetan Battery during a gang war inside prison in 2005, authorities moved him to Mehsana jail to ensure his safety. In July 2014, Gujarat HC granted him 30 days’ parole, after which he disappeared — but not in the way one would have expected.
“If a murder convict jumps parole, one naturally assumes he will go underground and avoid being seen in public. But this man chose the film industry,” said a senior officer. “He was openly giving auditions, acting in films, attending events and uploading his videos online.” Police now admit that years of inaction played a role in Modi remaining free. Sources said that his name did not appear on the list of 1,115 parole absconders uploaded by Gujarat Police on the National Prison Portal.
Sources claimed that it was a tip-off from a close relative regarding Modi’s stay in Ahmedabad that eventually led crime branch teams to a house near Gheekanta metro station. Officers spent nearly a month confirming his identity before moving in for the arrest.
Committed to His Craft
According to crime branch officials, Modi had been involved in theatre since college days, between 1998 and 2001. He took the stage name ‘Spandan Modi’ during this phase. Theatre, however, failed to provide financial stability and he took up law. While in jail, he cleared the judicial magistrate first class exam in 2008. Cops are now probing whether he appeared as an advocate in court while he was absconding.
After jumping parole, Modi first turned up in north Gujarat’s Patan. For the next two years, he made a living by acting in awareness skits, street plays, and govt campaigns on vaccination, hygiene and sanitation. “From vaccination to cleanliness drives, he performed in several awareness skits in north Gujarat,” said an officer. “At the same time, he was desperately trying to get proper acting assignments.”
His efforts eventually paid off. Between 2016 and 2017, Modi began appearing in Gujarati films and videos of popular Gujarati singers, mostly in devotional and religious roles. Since he already knew people in the drama circuit, securing small assignments was not difficult. “He had theatre experience, people saw him only as an actor,” said an investigator.
What’s remarkable was how he could change identities repeatedly. The aliases police have identified include Spandan Modi, Spandan Joshi, Spandan Vyas, Hemang Modi, Hemang Vyas, Hemang Vaishnav, Hemang Kumar and Spandan Kumar. Cops suspect he switched names to match the caste or community of whoever was hiring him, slipping into whatever identity felt apt. “Identity became like a costume change for him,” a cop said.
A theatre personality from Ahmedabad, who has known Modi since the late 1990s, recalled how Modi often circulated photographs of himself in different looks and get-ups. “It looked like an actor experimenting with roles. Now, it feels like it was a survival tactic,” he said.
Bollywood, on the run
In 2018, Modi shifted to Mumbai. His first major mainstream appearance, according to police and publicly available profiles, was in ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’, starring Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. It was not a major role but, for a struggling actor, it marked an entry into big Bollywood productions.
Since then, his resume steadily expanded. Modi later worked in projects including ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’, starring Ranveer Singh, ‘Metro...In Dino’ featuring Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi, and the Malayalam big-budget production, ‘L2 Empuraan’, starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. His latest appearance was in the Emraan Hashmi-starrer, ‘Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web’, that came out earlier this year.
During the Covid lockdown years, Modi reportedly stayed at a paying guest facility in Mumbai’s Borivali. The other actors he shared the accommodation with remember him as a man who never stopped talking about making it. “He used to motivate others by narrating how he’d struggled and eventually got opportunities,” said an actor who knew him during that period. “Nobody imagined that he was an absconder.”
As he chased acting opportunities, police said that Modi survived by taking up clerical work and odd jobs. Sleuths say he sent his portfolio to about 200 directors, producers and production houses in Bollywood and South India. Whatever role he received, no matter how small, he accepted enthusiastically. “He was happy even with minor character roles as he wanted only to act,” said an officer. That passion for acting is something almost everyone who encountered Modi noticed.
Perfect image
The portrait of Modi one pieces together from the descriptions of those who knew him is the kind he seemed to have consciously worked to create — “polite”, “sincere”, “hardworking”.
Actor, singer and music director Nisarg Trivedi said he knew Modi from college days, when the latter was deeply involved in drama. “He came across as polite and warm back then,” Trivedi recalls. Years later, Modi approached Trivedi for work, saying he had been released from jail. “He told me his jail term was over and asked for work.
Since he was talented, I recommended him for some assignments.” Trivedi insists there was nothing suspicious about Modi’s conduct. “He moved around openly and confidently. Nobody felt he was hiding something.”
The same impression came from Bhavesh Bhanu, a casting director in Ahmedabad, who worked with Modi for a character role in a film. “Nothing about his approach seemed off to me,” Bhanu said. “He never behaved like someone trying to conceal his identity.”
Bhanu, however, said that Modi had asked for his payment to be routed through someone else’s bank account, claiming his own wasn’t working. That’s the only factor that could arouse suspicion, Bhanu says, looking back.
Director Kartavya Shah, who cast Modi in ‘53 Mu Panu’ and earlier worked with him in a stage drama titled, ‘Sasraji Nu Sursuriyu’, described him as “deeply affected by prison life”. “He had told me that he spent many years in jail and was released on parole, but I never knew he was a murder convict or a parole jumper,”
Shah said. “He used to share emotional stories from his time in jail and even wanted to make a film based on those experiences.”
According to Shah, nobody from the theatre or film fraternity knew the full extent of Modi’s criminal background. “To us, he was just another actor trying to rebuild his life after struggle,” he said. Another Ahmedabad theatre personality remembers Modi as someone desperately chasing work. “He used to send portfolios and audition videos very frequently and worked as if there was no tomorrow.”
To the cops, he was a fugitive who manipulated identities and escaped justice for more than a decade. To the theatre community, he was the man who lived for the next part. He had been both for so long, it is not clear he himself could have told them apart.
We’ve started believing that only serious, intense stories are real cinema-Pankaj Tripathi
8:23 AM
Pankaj Tripathi reflects on calm storytelling, nostalgia, and his shift from ‘Mirzapur’s chaos to the quiet charm of ‘Parivarik Manoranjan’
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 12, 2025)
Even after years of complex performances, Pankaj Tripathi speaks about his work with a simplicity that feels almost old-fashioned. When he talks about his next film, Parivarik Manoranjan, you can sense a quiet pride in his voice. “It’s a very beautiful story,” he says, smiling. “It’s not a big drama, there are no loud twists. It’s like slow cooking. You’ll like those small moments that stay with you even after the film ends.”
The film brings him closer to an unexpected co-actor, Aditi Rao Hydari. He says it has been a joy, especially since they come from two different worlds. “Aditi is sincere and hardworking. I saw one of her scenes and was genuinely surprised by how beautiful it was — so natural, so effortless. It’s always nice when a co-actor makes you feel that way.”
The film, produced by Ali Abbas Zafar and written by Vijay Kala and Varun V Sharma, who is also directing it, takes Tripathi back to the rhythm of the everyday. “It reminded me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s brand of cinema — small, human stories about life as it is. Parivarik Manoranjan is like that. It’s just honest.”
Tripathi’s affection for this kind of cinema stems from both nostalgia and conviction. He believes the “feel-good” genre — which thrived through the 1970s and ’80s — needs revival, not out of sentimentality but necessity.
“We’ve made a very unilineal definition of cinema and art. Somewhere, we’ve started believing that only serious, intense stories are real cinema. But that’s not true. Cinema is also about filling the void in your life — that small emptiness that laughter, warmth, or a quiet moment can fill.”
He says he found a similar emotional range in films like Metro...In Dino, which he calls “a slice-of-life picture with repeat value.” According to him, such films can be watched again, and viewers will always find something new. “That’s the beauty of slow and calm storytelling — it grows with you.”
Unlike the morally ambiguous worlds of Mirzapur and Criminal Justice, he adds, “You binge it once, you discuss it, and you move on. It’s thrilling — but it doesn’t call you back again and again. Parivarik Manoranjan is the kind of film you want to sit with again — maybe on a rainy day or a quiet Sunday. It gives you peace.”
Even as he prepares to return to the chaotic worlds of Mirzapur and Criminal Justice 5, there’s a glow on his face when he speaks about Parivarik Manoranjan. “There’s entertainment in silence too. You just need to look for it,” he says.
In our jobs today, it’s very easy to confuse Reels as the real work-Sara Ali Khan
8:27 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 20, 2025)
Up until recently, actor Sara Ali Khan was as much a social media darling as she was an on-screen performer. But fans have noticed a shift — the actor has been keeping a low profile online.
Ask her why and the 29-year-old says, “I used to enjoy Instagram maybe a little more than I do now. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it at all.. But now there are days when I’ll feel like doing something fun and I’ll do it, but I don’t necessarily feel that way as often as maybe I did.”
Sara hints that the relentless scrutiny of everything but acting made her rethink the virtual world. And a powerful reminder came from veteran actor Anupam Kher.
“He was speaking about how actually our existence is just between action and cut,” the actor recalls, adding, “Sometimes, I also forget that. I’d be sitting in traffic thinking, ‘I didn’t make a Reel to trend.’ But that’s not our work. In our jobs today, it’s very easy to confuse what the real work is and what the supplementary work is.”
Currently enjoying the high of Metro...In Dino performing well, Sara credits director Anurag Basu and co-actor Aditya Roy Kapur. “Basu da really knows how to bring out the best in everyone... And I’ve said this before, Adi is a very easy going person. He allows the other person to feel relaxed. He’s not judgy, so that makes it very easy to work with him,” she signs off.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 890
11:24 PM
WILL SUPERMAN, MAALIK AND AANKHON KI GUSTAAKHIYAN CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The last three weeks have been great for the film industry. It all started with Sitaare Zameen Par working at the box office. The following week, F1: The Movie emerged as a surprise hit. Maa underperformed but did pull in a significant audience. Last week's Jurassic World: Rebirth, as expected, scored a sixer. Metro...In Dino had a slow opening but the way it has held on weekdays has been a pleasant surprise.
This week, three major films are up for release, with Superman being the biggest of them. It's not as big a series in India but nevertheless, the character is popular and known among the Indian population. Also, the Western reviews have been very positive. The bookings in India have been encouraging. It'll open less than Jurassic World: Rebirth and more than F1: The Movie. In other words, an opening of Rs. 7-8 crores is expected. If the word of mouth is strong, it can have a weekend of Rs. 25 crores.
Maalik stars Rajkummar Rao in a never-before-seen action avatar. His look has been appreciated but the film has not been able to generate excitement. However, since it's in the massy zone, it'll get a lot of theatres in B and C centres. The makers have provided a discount of Rs. 100 and that should attract more people than expected. It should open at Rs. 2.50-3 crores.
Lastly, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan stars Vikrant Massey and marks the debut of Shanaya Kapoor. The film looks like a clean love story and rests on an interesting idea. However, though the awareness is there, the buzz is very limited. It is also facing show-sharing issues since there are so many exciting releases around. Even Maalik has gone through this issue.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan will open at around Rs. 1-2 crores and will have to have a great word of mouth to jump big time.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 889
10:21 PM
WILL METRO...IN DINO AND JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The last two weeks have been favourable for the box office. Sitaare Zameen Par sprang a surprise and is rock steady at the box office. The Aamir Khan-starrer is expected to collect around Rs. 132 crores in 2 weeks. Maa, meanwhile, hasn’t had the best of collections and will emerge as an average grosser. It is poised to collect Rs. 26.50 crores in Week 1.
F1: The Movie, however, can go anywhere. It was superb on the weekends. Usually, such multiplex films don’t see a good jump on Sunday. But this film performed beyond expectations on its third day. If all goes well, its first week earnings will be around Rs. 34-35 crores. A lifetime of Rs. 50 crores is on the cards.
This week will see the release of two major films. Metro...In Dino is the second part to Life In A Metro and is directed by Anurag Basu. It stars Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The trailer was okay but the songs got noticed. The feedback is that the tracks are melodious and yet they haven’t become chartbusters. Moreover, it’s a film targeted at multiplexes.
The advance booking opened late and is decent. If the word of mouth reaches the audience faster, it can see a rise in collections from Friday evening. The film will have an opening of around Rs. 4.50-5 crores. A good jump on Saturday is possible, looking at the thumbs up from the critics.
Lastly, Jurassic World: Rebirth will be released. It’s a series that has always worked in India. The last part, Jurassic World: Dominion, opened at Rs. 8.22 crores. Looking at the hype and advance booking, the new installment will earn around Rs. 9.75-10 crores. It will have a good chance to score in the single screens as well.
The last two weeks have been favourable for the box office. Sitaare Zameen Par sprang a surprise and is rock steady at the box office. The Aamir Khan-starrer is expected to collect around Rs. 132 crores in 2 weeks. Maa, meanwhile, hasn’t had the best of collections and will emerge as an average grosser. It is poised to collect Rs. 26.50 crores in Week 1.
F1: The Movie, however, can go anywhere. It was superb on the weekends. Usually, such multiplex films don’t see a good jump on Sunday. But this film performed beyond expectations on its third day. If all goes well, its first week earnings will be around Rs. 34-35 crores. A lifetime of Rs. 50 crores is on the cards.
This week will see the release of two major films. Metro...In Dino is the second part to Life In A Metro and is directed by Anurag Basu. It stars Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The trailer was okay but the songs got noticed. The feedback is that the tracks are melodious and yet they haven’t become chartbusters. Moreover, it’s a film targeted at multiplexes.
The advance booking opened late and is decent. If the word of mouth reaches the audience faster, it can see a rise in collections from Friday evening. The film will have an opening of around Rs. 4.50-5 crores. A good jump on Saturday is possible, looking at the thumbs up from the critics.
Lastly, Jurassic World: Rebirth will be released. It’s a series that has always worked in India. The last part, Jurassic World: Dominion, opened at Rs. 8.22 crores. Looking at the hype and advance booking, the new installment will earn around Rs. 9.75-10 crores. It will have a good chance to score in the single screens as well.
I won’t pass up films for some arbitrary reason like screen space or strategy-Aditya Roy Kapur
8:27 AM
As Aditya Roy Kapur gears up for the release of Metro In Dino, he says he isn’t wary of ensemble films and goes purely by the story when choosing projects
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 28, 2025)
Aditya Roy Kapur isn’t a fan of promotions. But he is having a ball promoting Metro... In Dino. The actor is enjoying getting to know his co-stars as they join forces for Anurag Basu’s romantic drama.
Tell him that the movie is a much-needed antidote to action films that are dominating the box office, and Kapur says, “A lot of people have said that a film like this is releasing after long. When it comes to choosing projects, we tend to focus on what’s in front of us. You ask yourself: does this story connect with me? Once a certain kind of film does well, it triggers a chain reaction. That’s how the business works. Hopefully, people will connect with this film, and maybe we’ll see more of these stories being made again.”
Metro… In Dino marks the actor’s second collaboration with Basu after Ludo (2020). Starring Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal, the movie explores various shades of love. How easy is it to play the quintessential romantic hero? “People often underestimate how tricky it can be,” says Kapur.
“You need to lean into your own charm, make it feel current, and still keep it honest. It comes down to the writing. I don’t think Anurag sir would ever do something that feels uninspired. By now, Dada and I have developed a shorthand. There’s an instinctual understanding of what he wants. He wants his actors to be experimental; he doesn’t judge you if something doesn’t land. Also, he thrives on improvisation. He can rewrite a dialogue, change a scene, or shift the energy. Being on his set has taught me that sometimes, the takes where you feel unsure are the best ones.”
Usually stars are wary of ensemble movies. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has often said that today’s actors are too egoistic to share screen space. But Kapur has no such qualms.
“It’s about not denying myself a good opportunity. When Dada spoke about this new story, it sounded exciting. I wasn’t going to pass it up for some arbitrary reason like screen space or strategy. I started my career doing supporting roles. In my first film [London Dreams, 2009], I played a small part. I’m happy with my path.”
Is Raj and DK's Rakt Bramhand on hold? Ali Fazal shares an update
9:23 AM
Amid rumours that Rakt Bramhand is shelved, Ali Fazal reveals he hasn’t shot for the royal fantasy drama for ‘a couple of months’; is clueless about its way ahead
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 23, 2025)
In February, mid-day had reported that Rakt Bramhand’s shoot had hit a roadblock, with creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK hitting pause on one of its schedules (Hold the bugle call, Feb 15). Since then, there has been ambiguity about the Netflix series’ status, with rumours suggesting it has been delayed, and shelved even. As we recently caught up with Ali Fazal, who plays one of the leads alongside Aditya Roy Kapur and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, we asked him what’s happening on the series.
“I honestly don’t know what’s happening on that one. I wish I knew,” he said.
All eyes have been on Rakt Bramhand since it rolled in August 2024 as it is among the most ambitious Indian originals from the streaming giant. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the fantasy drama reportedly revolves around warring kingdoms.
Fazal added, “I know the show was on hold. Adi [Aditya] and I were doing it together. We met now again during Metro...In Dino’s promotions. It has been a couple of months since I last shot for it. Then I had to cut my hair because I had to shoot for something else.”
Fazal is currently filming his next series, titled Ranga Billa, co-starring Sonali Bendre.
As a father, I spent the first few months very anxious-Ali Fazal
4:07 PM
Stating that his idea of love has changed since welcoming daughter Zuneyra, Ali Fazal discusses his fears as a father; hopes artistes today will leave behind meaningful cinema for the next generation
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 18, 2025)
Next month, Ali Fazal will bring romance on screen with Metro...In Dino. But in real life, love is an everyday affair for the actor, who has been discovering new meanings to the emotion after welcoming daughter Zuneyra Ida Fazal. His love story with actor and his wife Richa Chadha too has taken a new turn as they navigate parenthood together.
“You’ll find me trying to flirt back with my wife, find new ways to get out. Once our daughter sleeps, we’re like, ‘Let’s grab a bite’. Or some mornings, we sit, have our coffees, and talk,” he smiles.
Fazal and Chadha became proud parents to Zuneyra last July. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of change — between burping duties and nappy changes, between feeling on top of the world and feeling exhausted, the actor says he has become “a different person”.
“The definition of love has become different since parenthood,” he reflects, adding that he was an anxious father in the first few months since his daughter’s birth. “I probably read all the literature. I spent the first few months very anxious. Now it’s getting a little better.”
As an actor and a producer, Fazal not only tries to contribute to meaningful cinema, but also is a strong public voice for social dissent. His forthrightness hasn’t come without a cost. “It’s difficult to be an opinionated artiste in the industry. I’ve probably lost work because of that at times, but I don’t regret it. Sometimes, speaking out is not the only answer.”
That’s where, he believes, the power of cinema lies. “We’ll make all kinds of cinema, but we have to be smart about it. We can’t wait for the right time to come. The best of things come out in tragic times. We have to crack how we can smartly make [what we want to say].”
You do your best work when you’re at the edge of fear-Aditya Roy Kapur
8:23 AM
Aditya Roy Kapur discusses how playing the quirky character in Metro… In Dino was uncharted territory for him and made him feel ‘alive’ as an artiste
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 5, 2025)
There is a reason everyone awaits an Anurag Basu film. The world he builds is a lot like the one we live in — it has lost souls seeking answers, flawed people trying to be better, and almost everyone wishing to find love amid their hustle in the city. All this, with a dollop of hope. And honesty, points out Aditya Roy Kapur.
“There is honesty in how Dada [Basu] writes his relationships,” says the actor, who stars in the filmmaker’s upcoming release, Metro…In Dino.
Yesterday, the makers released the trailer of Metro…In Dino, a sequel of sorts to the much loved Life in a… Metro (2007). With the film, Kapur — who featured in Basu’s Ludo (2020) — is happy to dive back into the director’s world of tangled love stories and messy human connections. This time, he is joined by co-stars Sara Ali Khan, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sensharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal.
“You have to strip yourself bare to feel all the love, loss, and longing he has poured into the story. With this project, there is also a musical element, where we had to figure out how to go from talking to singing, and then back to talking. Navigating that was challenging, but also rewarding,” he smiles.
Kapur’s 16-year career has enabled him to explore romantic dramas, action films, and thrillers. It’s the slice-of-life films that he has a soft spot for, he admits. “It’s a gift to play someone larger than life, but those small moments and awkward silences are equally important. That helps an actor grow,” he says, adding that the idea is to balance intense roles with light-hearted ones.
“My character here is idiosyncratic. That gave me the opportunity to have fun with it. My last outing was The Night Manager [2023]. It’s nice to go from that intense role to something lighter. I enjoyed the first Metro. So, while doing this, I’d look forward to going to work every day. My journey as an actor is about trying things that I haven’t done before. It’s exciting to have that slight fear when you’re going into the unknown. You are the most alive and can possibly do your best work when you’re at the edge of fear. It’s nice to be in a space where you’re not sure because that means you’re pushing yourself into a place you haven’t been in.”
What are his hopes from the film? “I hope people see themselves in it,” he promptly replies.
Many Hindi films have opted against a theatrical release in the next two-three months
8:22 AM
Many Hindi films have opted against a theatrical release in the next two-three months, we find out why
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 19, 2025)
Amid a flurry of OTT releases, a film releasing in theatres is a big deal in itself these days. It is almost a gamble, given how picky audiences are about a theatrical watch. One look at the 2025 calendar of releases, and you will realize that the next three months seem to be a rough patch for the industry. Among others, the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) is said to be one of the reasons for the lean patch.
Looking at April alone, many releases have been shifted. The Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi-starrer Jolly LLB 3 will now hit the screens in August. Filmmaker Karan Johar’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor and Sanya Malhotra, will now hit the screens on September 12 instead of April 18. A source tells us that while the shoot started later than intended, businessman Adar Poonawalla buying 50% stake in KJo’s Dharma Productions also added to the delay.
Metro... In Dino was originally set to come out on November 29 last year, but it got pushed to July 4. Sharing why the film wasn’t slated for a summer release, a source close to the project informs us: “We wanted a desired window looking at the other releases. So, we settled on July 4.”
Of course, the trade is not happy with the lean patch. Expert Atul Mohan says, “Every month sees one or two big releases, but small filmmakers don’t prefer to release their films in theatres when the IPL is on. So, they push their dates by a month or two.”
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, director of Phule, isn’t perturbed by the IPL or other films releasing alongside: “April 10 is the 197th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. So, how can we miss out on that date? There won’t be any point otherwise.”
Films set to hit the screens this summer
April currently has four theatrical releases that are likely to hit the screens as scheduled — Jaat and Bhool Chuk Maaf on April 10, Phule on April 11 and The Bhootnii on April 18. May has two releases — Raid 2 and Kesari Veer.
June will see three films in theatres — Housefull 5, Maalik and Maa.
Not everyone is gifted with comic timing and you cannot acquire it-Neena Gupta
9:34 AM
After exploring comedy with Dil Dosti Aur Dogs, veteran actor Neena Gupta has the Vadh sequel, Panchayat’s fourth season, and Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 2, 2025)
Neena Gupta feels her life, currently, is a long-running dream. The National Award-winning actor has as many as four diverse stories to tell in the coming months. Not just that, she is also enjoying the precious position of being able to say no to what doesn’t feel right.
“When [good] work comes, I take it up. When it goes to someone else, I feel bad. Now, I am able to say no to projects I don’t enjoy listening to. That makes me very happy. Earlier, I couldn’t because I had to survive,” she smiles. Gupta begins the year with the JioHotstar film, Dil Dosti Aur Dogs, in which the actor plays an emotionally withdrawn woman, who finds an unlikely companion in a furry friend. The actor says she relished entering an unfamiliar territory. “I have never played such a character. It was a big challenge and interesting for me to do,” she says.
Dil Dosti Aur Dogs also offered the actor another opportunity in the comedy space. It’s a genre Gupta has often taken up over her four decade career—from the classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) to her hit OTT outing Panchayat. The actor says comedy is the trickiest genre, which needs the hands of an able director.
“Not everyone is gifted with comic timing and you cannot acquire it. The director has a big role to play in this. If you fall on the wrong note, no one can help you. Long ago, I had replaced an actor on a comedy show. I was told that I had to take it two notes higher that what I was performing on. The pitch of the show was loud. I was so unhappy doing it, but I agreed because that was their style. One has to adapt to various directors. That way, Panchayat is amazing because it is so real that we don’t have to do anything,” says Gupta, who has just finished filming the fourth season of the Prime Video series.
The year will also see the senior actor in director Anurag Basu’s romantic drama, Metro… In Dino, which also stars Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal and Anupam Kher.
Gushing about her maiden collaboration with Basu, she says, “I keep asking him, ‘When are you casting me next?’ Mostly, my segment in the film is with Anupam Kher, but we aren’t playing a couple. We shot in Kolkata and Mumbai. There was so much spontaneity and improvisation on the set. It was great fun as well as a learning,” says Gupta.
She recently finished filming the sequel to her 2022 thriller, Vadh. And now, her eyes set on something more athletic.
“I want to do an action film or a spy thriller. I also want to play a glamorous, cool woman. There was a project in the action space that had come my way. I also had a double role in it but it didn’t work out due to financial reasons. It might work out tomorrow, who knows. I had gotten offered a spy film as well, but that also didn’t materialize. But that’s something I am inclined towards.”
I missed Irrfan Khan so much during Metro...In Dino shoot-Konkona Sen Sharma
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Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 26, 2025)
With a National Award win for Mr and Mrs Iyer (2002), and a few films to her name in Bengali and English, Konkona Sen Sharma started her Hindi film journey with Page 3, 20 years ago. Mention it to her and she says, “I hadn’t thought of it as my Bollywood debut, because I was not sure if I wanted to continue being an actor or get a real job instead.”
She adds, “I got to know Mumbai during the time I shot for Page 3. Madhur (Bhandarkar, director) and his assistant took me around the city in local trains. I saw many locations and made some wonderful friends. (Actors) Tara Sharma, Sandhya Mridul and I are friends to this day. That made me stay in acting. After Page 3, I decided to move to Mumbai.”
The actor has some interesting projects ahead, including Metro...In Dino. Directed by Anurag Basu and a sequel to Life In A...Metro, Konkona is the only common actor in the 2007 release and its upcoming sequel. The 45-year-old says, “I love Anurag; he is a lovely person, relaxed and stress-free. He has excellent command over his craft. I don’t feel any responsibility (of being the only common link). Anurag has shoulders broad enough to handle that responsibility.”
Konkona was paired opposite late actor Irrfan Khan in the 2007 film. She reminisces, “This time, I missed Irrfan so much. In the first movie, I was the one who named his character Monty. While shooting some scenes, we kept remembering him. There were some scenes where I got emotional as well.”
Kartik Aaryan's romantic film with Anurag Basu delayed; actor to shoot Pati Patni Aur Woh 2
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Sources say Anurag Basu’s next with Kartik Aaryan, which was to roll this month, was pushed as the director wants to re-shoot some parts of Metro... In Dino
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 9, 2024)
Anurag Basu and Kartik Aaryan were scheduled to kick off their yet-untitled next, a romantic musical, this month. But it looks like the duo will have to wait a while before giving shape to their maiden collaboration. Reason—sources say that Basu wants to fine-tune his ensemble drama, Metro...In Dino.
For the spiritual sequel to his 2007 hit Life In A Metro, the director has brought together an eclectic cast comprising Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. The relationship drama was wrapped up in September, in time for its November 29 release. However, we’ve heard that the director recently expressed his concerns over the final cut and decided to re-shoot certain key portions.
A source close to the production revealed, “Anurag wasn’t completely satisfied with how some scenes shaped up, especially given the emotional complexity that is crucial to each of the intertwined stories of the film. He felt that re-shooting some scenes would help the narrative and better capture the story’s essence.”
Basu’s decision to re-shoot parts of Metro...In Dino over the next few weeks has pushed his project with Aaryan by two months. So, the actor is doing the next best thing—he plans to use this window to shoot Pati Patni Aur Woh 2, helmed by Mudassar Aziz. “He will start Pati Patni Aur Woh 2 by early December,” added the insider. mid-day texted Basu, who didn’t respond till press time.
Ali Fazal to take paternity leave from June 30
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The actor, who is all set to embrace fatherhood, has planned to take four to five weeks off to focus on Richa and the soon-to-be born child
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 23, 2024)
Actor-couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are expecting the arrival of their first child in July. While Chadha, who was recently seen in Heeramandi, told us that she will be on maternity leave till October, we have now learnt that the soon-to-be dad is also set to take a month-long paternity break.
Fazal has three films in hand that he is currently working on — filmmaker Anurag Basu’s Metro...In Dino, Thug Life with actor Kamal Haasan and Lahore 1947 with actor Sunny Deol.
A source close to the actor informs us, “Ali is going to wrap up all his work by June 30 and will then take four to five weeks off to focus on Richa and their soon-to-be born child.”
Talking about the status of all his films, the source adds, “Ali has four to five days of shoot left for Metro...In Dino, and Lahore 1947 is almost up for completion. As for Thug Life, he will be wrapping up the majority of his shoot before the break. Only one schedule of the film will be left, which Ali will complete in August.”
Chadha and Fazal announced their pregnancy in February, and the couple was actively working throughout the phase. Recently, in a chat, the soon-to-be mum told us about her husband that “he is very hands-on, and he is timing his work commitments also accordingly”.
She added, “I think fathers should always be around. It’s not just about helping the mother, but also about getting time with the child.”
This year has turned out to be quite extraordinary for me, despite the global writers’ strike-Ali Fazal
9:53 AM
Ali says he benefited from WGA strike as his free schedule helped him do several Indian films, including Metro In Dino
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 20, 2024)
The bad news is that the Writers Guild of America strike, which took place between May and September 2023, halted Ali Fazal’s productions in Hollywood. The good news is that it opened up his schedule and gave him the opportunity to be part of many Bollywood projects. The actor is now looking forward to the release of his offerings that include the third season of Mirzapur, Metro...In Dino, Thug Life alongside Kamal Hassan, and Lahore 1947.
Only days after the trailer of Mirzapur 3 was released, Fazal says that following last year’s setback, 2024 has become one of the best years of his career. “This year has turned out to be quite extraordinary for me, despite the global writers’ strike. I had to take a break from international work. But I’m thrilled to be part of Anurag sir’s film, Mani Ratnam sir’s Thug Life, as well as Lahore 1947. It gave me a chance to explore a variety of roles in a short time,” shares the actor.
While Metro...In Dino has an ensemble cast that includes Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur and Fatima Sana Shaikh, Rajkumar Santoshi’s film will see him share screen space with Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.
Fazal’s pursuit for novel stories was also rewarded earlier this year when his maiden production Girls Will Be Girls bagged two awards at the Sundance Film Festival.
“We’ve also announced five other projects. Our idea is to nurture new talents and ourselves. This is also a time where we are nurturing our personal lives,” beams the actor, who is expecting his first child with actor-wife Richa Chadha.
The opportunity to collaborate with two stalwarts of Indian cinema has been humbling-Ali Fazal
8:21 AM
Ali says he is honoured to work with Haasan and Ratnam as he joins Thug Life shoot; to film in Delhi’s bustling markets over next few days
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 9, 2024)
Ali Fazal had wished for it, even pictured in his head how it would be if he ever got the opportunity to work with Mani Ratnam. But years of hoping had not prepared him for the surprise that is Thug Life. The action drama not only marks the actor’s first collaboration with the filmmaker, but also sees him share screen space with his childhood hero Kamal Haasan. Fazal, who has joined the Delhi shoot, says he is a mixed bag of emotions—from excitement to pride and nervousness—but above all, he feels a deep sense of honour to work with the two masters of the craft.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Mani sir’s vision, and I can only hope to bring something of significance to this canvas. It’s an honour to work alongside Kamal Haasan sir and share notes with him. The opportunity to collaborate with two stalwarts of Indian cinema has been humbling,” says the actor about his maiden Tamil project.
Announced in November 2022, Thug Life sees Haasan and Ratnam reuniting 37 years after their acclaimed Nayakan (1987). This time around, they have jointly written the script of the ambitious action drama that also stars Trisha, Silambarasan, Abhirami, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanya Malhotra. While Haasan kicked off the shoot in January with a schedule in Chennai, the team began the second stint in the capital this month.
A source reveals, “This week, Fazal will shoot a few sequences at some iconic markets of Delhi. The team has procured the necessary permissions to film at such busy places. Late next week, the shoot will move to Chennai where it will go on till May-end.”
We hear Fazal will report back to Thug Life’s set only in August after wrapping up Anurag Basu’s Metro... In Dino in June. The source adds, “He has kept his July dates free as Richa [Chadha, actor-wife] and he are expecting the arrival of their baby then. In August, he will juggle Mani sir’s shoot with the promotions for the third season of Mirzapur.”
I am doubtful about sequels of much-loved films, says Konkona Sen Sharma on Wake Up Sid 2
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Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; January 21, 2024)
Sequels have often proved to be a success formula in Bollywood. Recently, when Konkona Sensharma and Ranbir Kapoor came together for a commercial, netizens said that they were keen to see them on the big screen after their much-loved movie Wake Up Sid back in 2009. Reacting to it, Konkona says, “I am so touched. So many people still have so much love for the movie and the character.” The actress, however, isn’t certain about a second instalment of the movie, which many were hoping for.
“I am a little doubtful about sequels of much-loved films. You can never live up to that hype, so it is best left to the imagination. Also, it is a lot of pressure to live up to something people have already loved,” she says.
Konkona says that shooting with Ranbir recently, however briefly, was like “a little nostalgia trip”. She continues, “We shot for just two days, but it was lovely to reunite with Ranbir and others. We were remembering that we were all babies when we shot the movie around 15 years ago. At that time, Ranbir had just done Saawariya. We were all kids starting out, and it was lovely that after a long time, we could all be together. We’ve all come a long way and grown so much… we have our own families now. Ranbir has a child, I do, too.”
Interestingly, while the actress is mostly not excited about the idea of sequels of some films, she will next be seen in Metro...In Dino, a sequel to Anurag Basu’s Life In A… Metro (2007). Explaining why she decided to be a part of the project, she says, “It is like a spiritual sequel because it’s not the same character. But it is so nice to work with dada (Anurag Basu) again. He is a wonderful human being and a great director,” she signs off.
Industry insiders speak about the rise of the trend of sequels and franchise films
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With the year set to witness a multitude of sequels and franchise films, we speak to industry insiders about the trend
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 18, 2024)
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Welcome To The Jungle, Stree 2, Singham Again, Pushpa 2 - The Rule, Metro...In Dino and now, Raid 2 — newer instalments of many film franchises have been announced for the year ahead. By betting on the familiar instead of exploring new territory, are makers playing it safe or raising the stakes even higher?
“Franchise ki popularity achhi baat bhi hai aur buri bhi,” says filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who will helm BB3. He elaborates, “Ek film ka itna goodwill hai, uske liye pyaar hai, so makers feel more people will go and watch it. On the other hand, maintaining curiosity among people for films today is very tough. The problem with franchises is that the audience goes in with a lot of expectations that the film must be good like the previous one. So, it’s a challenge for the makers [to meet expectations].”
This is true for everyone involved in the particular franchise. Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who will reprise his role as Janna in Stree 2, feels the pressure of this “added responsibility”. He says, “The character is loved by people. So, of course, the pressure is high.”
In some ways, the trend can be seen as a spillover from last year, with sequels of commercial successes like OMG, Dream Girl, Gadar and Drishyam releasing and doing good business.
For trade expert Atul Mohan, this inclination signals an overall decline in makers’ risk-taking abilities. “Daring aaj kal kam ho gayi hai industry mein. New writers keep going from pillar-to-post with their stories, but nobody is ready to listen to them,” he says, adding, “Aaj ke time pe log experiment nahin karna chahte. Everyone feels, ‘There’s already this popular film, let’s just make that’. They think the recall value will be more, so they won’t have to put in effort to establish a new brand. [For instance,] Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 worked, so [they think] it’ll be simple to market the third instalment. Raid was popular, so instead of picking a story and announcing it as a new film, the makers decided to announce it as Raid 2 since it was on a similar theme.”
Metro...In Dino won't be able to release on March 29; 30-day shoot pending
8:28 AM
Initially slated to release in March, Metro... In Dino delayed; director Basu has 30-day shoot remaining, including filming of songs with ensemble cast
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 11, 2024)
Good things take time. It’s particularly true of filmmaker Anurag Basu whose movies, though often delayed, are worth the wait. His next, Metro... In Dino—starring Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta—was to release on March 29. Now, mid-day has learnt that the ensemble drama has been postponed, as the team has almost a month’s shoot remaining.
The sequel to Basu’s beautiful Life in a Metro (2007) was originally slated to hit the marquee on December 8, 2023. However, last July, the makers announced that the release was pushed to March 29, 2024. Now, a March date with the audience is off the table.
A source reveals, “Anurag, who has written the script with Samrat Chakraborty, is a maverick filmmaker known to take his time to complete a movie. His method is unique where he likes to spend time with actors, helping them understand their scenes and characters better. At the same time, he is all about spontaneity, and often gives them dialogues a few hours before the shoot, or reimagines scenes during filming. Most actors love working with him as it’s a creatively fulfilling experience. On Metro... In Dino, he has a 30-day shoot pending. Nobody wants to rush Dada’s process.”
Buzz also suggests that Basu will re-shoot some portions as he isn’t happy with the rushes, and that music director Pritam hasn’t composed any songs yet. Producer Bhushan Kumar, however, dismisses the rumours as “untrue.”
He says, “We have only 30 days of songs and [talkie portions] left to shoot, which we will complete in March-April. Obviously, we won’t be able to release the film on March 29. We have not announced a new date yet. It has been tough getting combination dates of so many artistes. The film has six to seven songs, and Pritam has already started giving us some tracks.”
Confirming that the anthology has been postponed, Basu says, “I have not yet shot with Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh. So, I am finishing their story and songs with other actors. I’d like to add that contrary to speculation, I have never re-shot anything for any of my films.”
Going for another spy role would be a trap-Aditya Roy Kapur
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Aditya Roy Kapur is thrilled that The Night Manager has given him his breakout role and changed the audience’s perception, Aditya now wants to revisit romantic dramas
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 6, 2023)
Sometimes, it takes the right role for the industry and the audience to take notice of an actor’s potential. For Aditya Roy Kapur, The Night Manager gave him that role. “People have been saying to me, ‘Everyone is seeing you differently now!’ I don’t understand this because I have always seen myself like this,” he laughs, buoyed by the praise coming his way.
Only days ago, the second instalment of the Kapur, Anil Kapoor and Sobhita Dhulipala-starrer dropped on Disney+ Hotstar, replicating the success of its opening part. With The Night Manager, creator-director Sandeep Modi has adapted the 2016 British original of the same name, giving us a stylised spy thriller that sees Kapur’s character Shaan bring down an arms dealer. The actor credits the series’ detailed writing and Modi’s vision for the change in audience’s perception.
“I have always believed that the right element will always be there in the right part. [If you see] the tonality in the writing and the way Sandeep mounted it, I hadn’t got to do something like that in a theatrical release.”
Considering the industry has a habit of repeating a success formula, will we see the actor in more brooding, intense roles now?
“Going for another spy role would be a trap, which I want to be away from. But if I get to do something in a similar space, writing-and presentation-wise, I’d be happy to do it. The idea is to get this kind of love for future work as well. But I don’t want to only fight on screen. I want to do more romances.”
Kapur’s wish is being fulfilled by Anurag Basu, who is reuniting with his Ludo (2020) actor for Metro... In Dino. He is thrilled to be back on the set with the filmmaker. “With Dada, it’s always a trip. Every day is a new day. Just be ready to have fun.”
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