Indus Chronicles

18 years after Life In A Metro, its spiritual successor Metro… In Dino is set to release. Reports suggest that this film marks the final chapter of Anurag Basu’s journey with hyperlinked storytelling. Similar to its predecessor, it explores the complexities of modern relationships through four interconnected stories set across four metro cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Recently, Anurag Basu shared that the film is a tribute to Irrfan and KK, both of whom played significant roles in Life In A Metro.

In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Anurag Basu revealed that the idea of a sequel to the 2007 film Life In A Metro actually came from Irrfan himself. Speaking about it, he shared, “Post Jagga Jasoos, Irrfan and I were talking about a sequel to Life In A Metro. He, in fact, had given me the idea to start working on it. He told me, ‘Metro 2 banate hai.’ He told me about it much later, not immediately after the first film.” Interestingly, back in 2017, there were already reports suggesting that Irrfan had signed on and would be part of the second installment.

Anurag Basu, however, admitted that he never initially intended to create a trilogy of hyperlinked films. “I didn’t have any plans of making a trilogy. I was scared if Life In A Metro would even work. It was something very different. But after that, I got a hang of it. I started enjoying writing hyperlinked films. Then Ludo happened," shared the Gangster and Kites director. Despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise, it now appears that Metro… In Dino might not be the final chapter in his series of hyperlinked narratives.

Dating apps, now a key element of modern romance, may have surged in popularity in India after 2007, but Anurag believes that the storyline featuring Konkona Sensharma and Irrfan in Life In A Metro was actually ahead of its time. “Their characters had met online – on a matrimonial site. A lot has changed in these 18 years and we should come to terms with it. People are less expressive in person now. They speak their hearts out, virtually. They can convey all their emotions in a true form online. Aaj kal one-to-one mein nahi hota hai," he observes.

When asked about his personal takeaway from past relationships, Anurag shared, “What love has taught me is that I’ve started seeing the world and stories of people from a woman’s point of view. I’ve learnt to see things from their perspective after falling in love and that has really helped me as a creative person."

Also Read : “Anurag Basu and Pritam are a lethal combination,” says Metro In Dino producer Bhushan Kumar

The trailer of Akshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti, produced by Zee Studios in association with Contiloe Pictures, has gripped audiences with its raw intensity and emotional depth. Inspired by true events, the film brings to the screen. The searing 2002 terrorist attack on the Akshardham Temple in Gujarat and the heroic counter-terror operation that followed. The film is slated for a nationwide theatrical release on July 4, 2025.

Headlined by Akshaye Khanna, with Gautam Rode and Vivek Dahiya in pivotal roles, the film is directed by Ken Ghosh and produced by Abhimanyu Singh. The trailer has already sparked widespread attention for its grounded tone, realistic action, and moving portrayal of sacrifice.

Director Ken Ghosh, reflecting on the making of the film, shared some of the emotionally charged experiences behind the scenes, "Portraying the bravery of commandos, their selfless grit, knowing their lives were at stake yet ready to sacrifice for their country, was just so moving."

“The bridge scene, which is at the end of the film, was actually the first shot. We landed in Manali, and it had just started snowing. That was shot literally in the snow," Ken further added about the logistical challenges faced during filming. While the film promises gripping action and a tense narrative, it’s the emotional honesty, the moments of sacrifice, family, and courage, that sets Akshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti apart.

As the release date approaches, Akshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti is not just being seen as a patriotic thriller, but as a tribute to the bravery, discipline and strength of India’s unsung heroes. Readers may know that the film was earlier released on Zee 5 with the title State of Siege: Temple Attack and it is now released in theatres with this new title.

Also Read: Akshaye Khanna starrer Akshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti gets big-screen release on July 4

The industry trends change every few years. But post-pandemic, the changes have been sudden and also unexpected. Girish Johar, producer and eminent film business analyst, in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, opened up on aspects like reduced ticket prices, dearth of cinemas, BOGO, losing credibility of reviews, etc, in simple layman terms.

From a trade perspective, can reduced ticket pricing serve as a viable strategy to drive footfall in theatres, or does it risk devaluing the big-screen experience? I am of the firm belief that if theatrical business flourishes, then everything in the ecosystem will benefit. The theatrical economics has to be right. Theatres have tied up with malls and are paying higher rentals. As a result, they need to earn by hiking up the rates of snacks and tickets. Meanwhile, the audience always has the option to catch the film on OTT. They are not ready to watch below-average content on higher ticket prices. Sadly, 90% of the content in today’s times is below average. They argue that why should they pay a bomb to watch such films? This further draws them away from the big screen. This probably can be resolved with reasonable ticket pricing and a regular flow of content. In 2018-19, it was the small and mid-sized films that flourished like Badhaai Ho, Andhandhun, Article 15, etc. These films were expected to collect in the range of Rs. 30-40 crores. But they ended up collecting Rs. 70 crores and in some cases, even more than Rs. 100 crores. Such movies need to be priced averagely. You can’t sell its tickets for Rs. 500. That can be charged for tent-pole films but then there are not more than 10 such films.

I always give the example of cricket. The slog overs do matter and in the case of cinema, these are the tentpole films. But it is the middle overs (that is, mid-sized films) which are crucial. This is when the players need to score 4s and 6s.

Will we ever see a day of Rs. 100 ticket pricing so that the moviegoing experience becomes affordable for the common man? It is possible. It has been implemented during Cinema Days though its effect has now diminished. Also, it should not be held blindly. It should be backed by content which will cater to the audience paying for discounted tickets. In my understanding, it is the regional economics which should derive such pricing. What is stopping such offers in specific regions for a specific day, like say Indore Cinema Day or Bhopal Cinema Day?

In the pre-pandemic era, the attitude of the moviegoer was different. They would turn up to watch any film every week as they were habituated. Now, moviegoers scan the film minutely before watching it. They ask, ‘Is it worth it? Aren’t the ticket rates too high? Will the film be out on OTT soon?’ We need to re-cultivate the habit of the audience of coming to the theatres.

As I said earlier, the more theatres benefit, the more the industry will flourish. More productions will be greenlit, more content will be made. Even allied industries like printing, F&B etc, will benefit. Direct commissioning of films on OTT will also increase.

Meanwhile, the cinemas need to understand that it's not a good idea to promote OTT platforms in cinemas. They might get 2x or 3x the rates for these ads. But when a patron buys a ticket for Rs. 500 or Rs. 1000 and sees an ad stating the OTT subscription is available for Rs. 99 or Rs. 199 per month, the theatres are simply hurting themselves.

From an industry-builder’s point of view: Do you believe stars and studios need to actively invest in cinema infrastructure in underserved regions to expand theatrical reach? There are certain places where there’s no theatre for miles. Whenever I visit Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani, I always wonder where its residents watch films on the big screen? The nearest cinema hall is in Wai, which is 30 kms away… We have seen Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham talking about it. If they or other prominent celebrities come on board with a particular chain and become its brand ambassadors, then nothing like it. It’ll be much better as they’ll understand the ecosystem of cinemas minutely and the taste of the audience. This will help them select and make films accordingly.

Bhai ko, behen ko… Dushman ko, Yaar ko… And of course, apne Pyaar ko… Kal Jawan dikhaaiyega! Chacha-Chachi, Phoopha-Phoophi, Maama-Maami… Yaani Poore Parivaar ko. Sab ke liye ek ke saath ek free ticket!!!

Toh kal se… Parivaar, yaar aur pyaar… Just Buy 1 ticket and get the… pic.twitter.com/Qr9gI4ihcO

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 27, 2023

With the rise of social media chatter and peer-led opinions, has the traditional influence of film critics and reviews on box office performance diminished? Also, there has been a growing chatter around box office credibility. Is the industry, in trying to create perception, risking long-term damage to its own credibility and sustainability? Yes. I believe that the audience is no longer taking reviews and box office numbers seriously. It has become a marketing tool. The more the industry uses these tactics, the more ineffective it becomes. A critic giving a dishonest review may take money and give a mild or positive review to a poorly made film. The audience will trust his review, go for the movie, get disappointed and wonder, ‘Isne toh bola acchi film hai?’. This way, you can fool the audience once or twice but after that, they’ll lose the trust. They now trust the reviews of a friend or a family member more than the actual critics. I saw that happening with Sitaare Zameen Par as well.

Meanwhile, the audience is bombarded with advance ticket numbers and news of the film collecting Rs. 100 crores. It might tempt the audience to watch the film. But when they go to the theatre and see that the audi is empty, and on top of that when the content is poor, they feel cheated. This promotional tool has gone on for years and now the audience laughs at it. It's also common to see fans of a particular actor posting how the show of a rival actor’s film was full or almost full on BookMyShow. But when they went to watch it, there were a handful of patrons inside.

What are your views on the Buy One Get One Ticket free offer, popularly called BOGO? Does it result in success at the box office for a film? It was a tool used to pull a section of the audience to cinemas, the one which was in two minds. The idea was that the greater number of people watch a film, the more they’ll talk about it and it’ll further attract an additional higher number of moviegoers to cinemas for that particular film. Again, this tool has also backfired. Now the perception is that ‘Film bakwaas hogi; isliye ek pe ek ticket de rahe hai’. Excessive use of anything, that is not in the right spirit, nullifies its USP.

To give you an example, there was a producer who asked the ticketing app to issue BOGO coupons worth Rs. 10 lakhs. Despite getting a free ticket for every ticket, the film failed to get enough audience and the coupons worth Rs. 10 lakhs didn’t even get fully consumed!

A film like Jawan implemented BOGO in its sixth week. Do you think that it makes sense to have the offer just weeks before its OTT premiere? It can tempt that section of the audience, which is waiting for its digital release, to catch the film in cinemas instead. Yes. By the fifth or sixth week, the film has already proved its mettle. It is at the end of its run. If that is when BOGO is implemented, it would be a fair strategy. Again, it depends on the content.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan visits sets of Aamir Khan starrer Sitaare Zameen Par, shares iconic moments with cast

Paresh Rawal was back in the news yesterday, May 29, when he said in a podcast that his issues with Hera Pheri 3 team have been resolved. In the same podcast, hosted by Himanshu Mehta, he also talked about what has gone wrong with Hindi cinema.

Paresh Rawal began by saying, “The choice of subject (is to blame). Also, OTT ne do saal logon ko maze karwaaye lockdown mein. It led to a change in the taste of the audience and the makers haven’t been able to understand the same. Janta bahut aage nikal gayi hai. Some commercial film might work in between but if you keep churning same kind of films, you are bound to fail miserably. I am not saying commercial films shouldn’t be made. But a lot of effort should go into making it. Yeh nahin ki thokampatti karo.”

He further said, “Also, the stardom now will be limited. It won’t go for a long time. Now, every Friday, the star changes.”

Paresh Rawal also slammed inflated ticket rates, “Down South, there’s a slab. The prices can’t be more than Rs. 160 or Rs. 200. If the rate goes beyond that slab, then the films won’t work. If the aam junta shuns your film and only the rich class endorses your films, then it’s wrong.”

He also criticized the recliner seats section in multiplexes, “You are supposed to watch a film while sitting. Let ke nahin dekhi jaati. You haven’t come to a spa, you have come to see a film! Also, waiters keep roaming around. We have to tell them ‘Hatt, hatt’. Arre it’s a film, not a wedding event. Because of all this gandagi – gold class et al – you don’t feel like going to cinemas.”

He further explained, “It’s okay to sit comfortably on a seat. But why sit (lying down) with a pillow? Aise hi baithna hai toh spa mein jao ya fir mujra dekhne jao (laughs)!”

Paresh Rawal continued while also touching upon the high prices of food and beverages, “If a middle-class family, comprising 5-6 members, go to watch a film, unke Rs. 5000-6000 toh yuh nikal jaate hai. Also, there’s no guarantee that the film will satisfy you. On top of that, the kids will of course ask for popcorn, soda and ice cream (which also adds to the expenditure).”

Also Read: BREAKING: Baburao returns; Paresh Rawal reveals that Hera Pheri 3 issue has been resolved

Over the weekend, the sudden death of actress and television personality Shefali Jariwala received widespread media attention. While the exact cause of her death remains unclear, condolences from her peers and fans continue to pour in online. Among those who expressed their grief was Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who shared her shock over the untimely passing of the Kaanta Laga star. For those unaware, Shefali made a cameo appearance in Priyanka’s film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, which also starred Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar.

On June 29, Priyanka took to her Instagram Stories to share a portrait photo of Shefali, accompanied by a heartfelt caption: “So shook. She was too young. Sending condolences to Parag and the family.”

Shefali was rushed to the hospital from her residence in Andheri on June 27 after her health suddenly deteriorated. However, she was declared dead on arrival. As per reports, her post-mortem findings have ruled out any foul play, and an Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been filed. The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of her death.

Shefali is survived by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi. A new statement from an Amboli police officer revealed, “The doctor informed us that they suspect the cause of death could be a dip in her blood pressure.”

Also Read: Varun Dhawan SLAMS insensitive media coverage following Shefali Jariwala’s death: “Why do you have to cover someone’s grief?”

Filmmaker Anil Sharma took a break from his patriotic action films and came up with an emotional family drama in the form of Apne. The film brought together Dharmendra with his two sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol for the first time while it also starred Katrina Kaif and Shilpa Shetty in pivotal roles.

Veteran legend Dharmendra went down memory lane on Apne as the film completed 18 years today.

He said, “Apne is a film I am extremely proud of. It brought me and my two sons together. (Director) Anil Sharma wrote a script that did justice to all three of our characters. I remember we felt like a family on and off screen while shooting Apne.”

Speaking about the film’s sequel, Dharmendra added, “We have asked Anil to write a sequel. And he is in the process of writing Apne 2.” The sequel will also star Sunny Deol’s elder son Karan Deol. He was launched in 2019 with the romantic drama Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas.

Also Read: Dharmendra opens up on his youthful spirit; says, “Many people call me old, but I am still young”

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has paid a heartfelt tribute to his son Abhishek Bachchan on the milestone of completing 25 years in the film industry, publicly bowing to him and showering praise.

A video montage recently surfaced featuring Abhishek in various iconic roles over the years. The caption accompanying it read, “Celebrating 25 years of @juniorbachchan, the man who mastered wit, timing, and that unbeatable comic swag. Here’s to the laughs that never missed!”

Reacting to the tribute, Amitabh wrote in a social media post, “Is Variety ko maine pranaam karta hoon, aur apne putra ki sarahna karta hoon. Jee haan, pita hoon main uska, aur mere liye mera putra Abhishek sarahna karne yogya hai …(I bow to this variety and I praise my son. Yes, I’m his father, and for me, my son Abhishek is worthy of praise).”

T 5425 - ek chap ke kuch hi dinon mein , release hone waali hai .. aur ek aur nayi film ki shuruaat ho gayi hai .. pehla din film 'KING' ki shooting ... My blessings Bhaiyu .. love and more ❤️ And one more film shooting is complete and ready and coming soon .. my prayers ever… — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 28, 2025

The proud father went on to extend his blessings for Abhishek’s future projects, referencing multiple films in progress. In another post, Amitabh wrote, “Ek chap ke kuch hi dinon mein, release hone waali hai .. aur ek aur nayi film ki shuruaat ho gayi hai .. pehla din film KING ki shooting … My blessings Bhaiyu .. love and more. And one more film shooting is complete and ready and coming soon .. my prayers ever .”

On the work front, Abhishek made his cinematic debut in Refugee (2000). He gained critical acclaim and Filmfare Awards for early roles in Dhoom (2004), Yuva (2004), Sarkar (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006).

His 2024 film I Want to Talk, directed by Shoojit Sircar, won praise for his portrayal of cancer survivor Arjun Sen.

Abhishek is set to star in  Kaalidhar Laapata, slated for ZEE5 release. Additionally, the shooting of King is underway, and another film is in post-production, both strongly endorsed by Amitabh’s blessings.

Also Read : 1 year of Kalki 2898 AD: Inside the world of the Prabhas starrer – The making of India’s most ambitious sci-fi film