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India Today
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Exclusive: Sara Ali Khan says trusting Anurag Basu in Metro In Dino came naturally
Sara Ali Khan is no stranger to playing complex characters, each with their own quirks, conflicts, and contradictions. From the small-town charm of Somya in 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke' to the layered chaos of Rinku in 'Atrangi Re', Sara has been on a mission to explore every shade of the modern Indian woman. In Anurag Basu's 'Metro... In Dino', she slipped into the shoes of Chumki - a character that's equal parts relatable and an exclusive interview with India Today, the actor opened up about why Chumki's story resonated deeply with her, what it was like working with the maverick Basu, and how every role is a journey of unlearning and surrendering to the magic of ON HER CHARACTER CHUMKI'Chumki thinks she has it all figured out, but life has other plans'. Sara began by reflecting on how 'Metro... In Dino' captures the ever-shifting terrain of modern relationships. 'I think the overall theme of confusion, overthinking, and overplanning is something people will relate to a lot more today than maybe a few years ago,' she says. Chumki, she adds, is a mirror to this generation's need to control and calculate everything, until life forces them to just let go.'And, you know, Chumki believes she has it all figured out,' Sara shares, adding, 'But life has other plans! And ultimately, her attempt to go with the flow and follow her heart is what I resonate with I find that inspiring.' Photo: Instagram/Sara Ali Khan SARA CALLS ANURAG BASU 'GENIUS'Working with Anurag Basu, renowned for his emotional depth and whimsical storytelling, was, as expected, a dream come true. ' Dino' marked their first ever collaboration. Describing him, Sara couldn't help but call him "a true genius".'Basu Da is a true master, and I've always known that,' says Sara. She enthusiastically added, 'But watching the film made me truly realise what a genius he is. It's incredibly liberating to surrender to his vision, and trusting him comes so naturally.'The director's signature storytelling, she says, creates a space where actors can simply be. That sense of freedom translated directly into the rawness and vulnerability of Chumki's ' Dino', Chumki is a conflicted young woman navigating emotional abuse - both at work and in her toxic relationship with colleague Anand. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Parth (Aditya Roy Kapur), a traveller and theatre artiste. Photo: Instagram/Sara Ali Khan SHE ALWAYS EXPLORES VERSATILITYVersatility isn't just a buzzword in Sara Ali Khan's career - it's a conscious pursuit. From romantic comedies to intense dramas, her roles have swung across a wide emotional spectrum, but her approach remains asked how exciting it was to explore the many shades of herself on screen, Sara explains, "I've always aspired to explore versatility and have prayed for opportunities that would challenge me."She adds, 'Whether it's Somya, Rinku, Bambi, or Chumki, what draws me to any film is always the story. I believe I'm just one of the storytellers, and it's my responsibility to approach each character with freshness and honesty.'She adds, 'With every new role, there's a need to unlearn, surrender to the director's vision, and allow yourself to flow with it. At least, that's always what I attempt to do.'"IT WAS A BLAST WORKING WITH ADI"Sara's pairing with Aditya Roy Kapur in 'Metro... In Dino' might've raised a few eyebrows initially, but on screen, the chemistry feels effortless and deeply rooted. The credit, she says, goes to the comfort and spontaneity that defined their working dynamic.'Adi was just easy, spontaneous, and non-judgemental,' she adds, 'So working with him was a blast. More than anything, Basu Da and he never forgot to fully have fun while on set, and the rest was just surrendering to Basu da and letting his magic take over.' Photo: Instagram/Sara Ali Khan advertisementAsk her about the Gen Z love for Chumki (her character in Metro), and Sara beams with gratitude. She says, 'I've always wished for roles that are versatile, different, and something that audiences will like to watch and know more about. I truly feel lucky that I've had the chance to explore that genre - because every character of mine has been so different from the other. The common thread has been the attempt to approach them with honesty and a sense of newness. Chumki was a result of just that.'Besides Sara, ' Dino' also features Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Anupam Kher, Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi and Neena Gupta. The film's music has been composed by Pritam.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Sara Ali Khan
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Metro… In Dino' Replaces Love Aaj Kal as Sara Ali Khan's 4th Biggest Grosser
Sara Ali Khan's Metro In Dino has become her fourth-highest-grossing film, earning Rs 39.65 crore in 11 days. The film surpassed Love Aaj Kal, driven by a strong weekend surge and positive word-of-mouth. While it's a significant achievement, it still trails behind Kedarnath and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke in her career earnings. Sara Ali Khan 's latest release, Metro In Dino, which has become her 4th highest-grossing film at the box office. With modest collection of Rs 39.65 crore in just 11 days, the film has surpassed Love Aaj Kal with Kartik Aaryan (Rs 39.76 crore), securing a position just below Simmba with Ranveer Singh (Rs 240.3 crore), Zara Hatke Zara Bachke with Vicky Kaushal (Rs 88.35 crore), and her debut film Kedarnath with Sushant Singh Rajput (Rs 68.57 crore) in her career earnings. Mohit Suri Spills On 20 Years In Bollywood - Ahaan & Aneet, Alia Bhatt Dream Collab & More Box Office Journey: Metro In Dino had a decent start with Rs 3.5 crore on its opening day. The weekend surge was evident, with Day 2 (Saturday) pulling in Rs 6 crore (+71.43%) and Day 3 (Sunday) seeing an additional Rs 7.25 crore (+20.83%). The strong weekend collections set the tone for the film's potential, signaling a promising performance. However, the first Monday saw a steep decline of -65.52%, with collections falling to Rs 2.5 crore. This is a usual pattern for most films after their initial weekend, but Metro In Dino managed to recover in the subsequent days. Tuesday's collection rose to Rs 3 crore (+20%) before dipping to Rs 2.35 crore on Wednesday (-21.67%), followed by Rs 2.25 crore on Thursday (-4.26%). Week 1 concluded with Rs 26.85 crore in total, a solid opening for a film of its genre. Second Weekend and Beyond: In Week 2, the film maintained its steady pace with a notable improvement on Friday, where the collection increased by 4.44% to Rs 2.35 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like '이것' 부족하면 운동 소용없다.. 갱년기 살찐 진짜 이유 워킹맘 로즈 더 알아보기 Undo The weekend then showed further growth, especially on Saturday, when the film collected Rs 4.65 crore (+97.87%), indicating a strong word-of-mouth factor. The collections remained stable on Sunday, with Rs 4.65 crore again, ensuring that Metro In Dino was still drawing crowds. Box Office Milestone: By Day 11, the film had crossed Rs 39.65 crore, surpassing Love Aaj Kal'sRs 39.76 crore and cementing its place as the 4th biggest grosser in Sara Ali Khan's filmography. Though it remains a significant achievement for Metro In Dino, it still has a long way to go before catching up to Kedarnath's Rs 68.57 crore and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke's Rs 88.35 crore. Conclusion: Meteo In Dino has had a decent box office run, proving itself a solid performer in Sara Ali Khan's career. The film has a strong ensemble cast of Aditya Roy Kapur , Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Konkana Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Metro In Dino' star Sara Ali Khan on modern-day relationships; confesses she never used 'dating apps'
recently starred in the film 'Metro In Dino' where she takes on the role of a woman who is confused between two men. The actress recently delved into the concept of modern dating Sara Ali Khan on relationships Sara, who is known for her roles in 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke' and 'Simmba', recently opened up about the qualms of dating in the modern world and how 'there's a death of love today,' in the actress's words. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She indicated that she's currently single and is looking for a different person now. While addressing her past relationships and her experiences in an interview with News18 Showsha, the actress shared that the first thing to pop up in her mind is love languages. She shared that, 'When I think of love and relationships, love languages come to my mind. When you fall in love, you've to understand that people have different and their own ways of expressing something'. She also detailed how such a concept of love language may not match for every couple, but the key to a successful one is to understand that everyone is trying to work on themselves and do their best with what they have, 'in their own way'. Looking for something different? Continuing with her conversation, the actress then delved into how she is looking for something different that what she has already experienced. While talking about her reason, the actress shared that, 'I've learnt to understand people better. I've cleansed myself out. I'm looking for a different person now. I've grown up now'. Has Sara Ali Khan used dating apps ? Has the 'Simmba' actress been using dating apps? The answer is no. Khan talked about how she has not yet experienced the use of dating apps, even though they have managed to become a part of the modern-day dating scene. She shared that 'I've never used a dating app. Some people use it and it's fine, but I feel that mil kar hi pata chalta hai. In a world where everything has become so digital, if meeting a partner also becomes digital, it won't be fun for me'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Red flags? Or not? While talking about the topic of red flags, Sara shared how some of the so-called 'red flags' that may be considered an issue for most people do not stand out that much to her. The 'Kedarnath' actress shared that 'If my partner isn't willing to acknowledge our relationship, I'll give him 108 green flags. It sounds amazing to me because it's a very rare situation (laughs). I also don't believe in the guy always paying the bill. I believe in splitting it. Also, if they ask me about my whereabouts very frequently, I'm okay with it as long as they're not tracking me through GPS or ask me to prove where I am'.
News18
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sara Ali Khan On Dating Apps, Love Life: 'Never Used One; Looking For Different Person Now'
Last Updated: Sara Ali Khan reveals that she has never used dating apps and why she's against them. She also spills the beans on the lessons she learnt from her past relationships. Metro In Dino marks Sara Ali Khan's first collaboration with Anurag Basu. The spiritual sequel of Life In A Metro sees her playing a confused young woman, torn between two men, juggling with the many ideas of what love really is. The early reviews are already out and Sara has been winning raving reviews for her performance in the film and for her chemistry with Aditya Roy Kapur. Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, she recognises the many challenges of a modern-day relationship and states that 'there's a dearth of love today', seemingly signaling that she's single. At the same time, she acknowledges her past relationships and looking at the silver lining, tells us that they've helped her evolve into the person that she's today. So, what has she taken back from them? 'When I think of love and relationships, love languages come to my mind. When you fall in love, you've to understand that people have different and their own ways of expressing something. Your love language may not match with your partner's but you've to understand that they're doing their best in their own way," Sara remarks. However, she's quick to add that she's not looking for someone similar to her former flames. 'You might be a time-oriented or a physical touch-oriented person but your partner maybe like an act of service-oriented person. Being able to notice what they're doing – I think that's what's interesting. Not everyone will love you the way you want to be loved but as long as they're doing their best, it's all good. I've learnt to understand people better. I've cleansed myself out. I'm looking for a different person now. I've grown up now," she shares. And what about dating apps, which have now become an inseparable part of modern romance? 'I've never used a dating app. Some people use it and it's fine but I feel that mil kar hi pata chalta hai. In a world where everything has become so digital, if meeting a partner also becomes digital, it won't be fun for me," says the Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Kedarnath actor. As Gen-Z continues to obsess over red flags and green flags in their potential partners, Sara quips that there are a bunch of red flag traits that aren't completely unacceptable for her. 'If my partner isn't willing to acknowledge our relationship, I'll give him 108 green flags. It sounds amazing to me because it's a very rare situation (laughs). I also don't believe in the guy always paying the bill. I believe in splitting it. Also, if they ask me about my whereabouts very frequently, I'm okay with it as long as they're not tracking me through GPS or asks me to prove where I am (laughs)," reveals Sara. On a related note, Metro In Dino also stars Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh. It's running in cinemas now. First Published:
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why Bollywood keeps naming films after old songs: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Hai Jawaani toh Ishq Hona Hai to Om Shanti Om
In today's Bollywood, nostalgia is more than just a sentiment—it's a marketing strategy. With increasing frequency, filmmakers are borrowing from the past to craft film titles that instantly spark recognition. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Song lyrics, cultural phrases, and classic film references are being repurposed to emotionally hook audiences before the first trailer even drops. As one industry insider quipped, 'Nostalgia sells faster than popcorn at a multiplex.' Titles That Echo Familiar Tunes It's no coincidence that many recent titles sound eerily familiar—they often are. Take Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), for example. Its name is lifted straight from the foot-tapping 1982 disco hit from Namak Halaal, a song still embedded in Bollywood's collective memory. Similarly, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke borrows from a lyric in the iconic Bombay Meri Jaan, tapping into Mumbai's cultural soul. This trend has deep roots. Titles like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Jab Tak Hai Jaan were themselves drawn from classic Bollywood songs. But in the past decade, this practice has gained renewed momentum—anchored in the belief that a familiar title creates an emotional shortcut to audience interest. Does Nostalgia Translate to Box Office Success? Not always. Jawaani Jaaneman, despite the catchy title, failed to click with audiences—earning Rs 39.1 crore on a budget of Rs 34 crore and landing as a box office disappointment. In contrast, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke became a sleeper hit, grossing Rs 115.9 crore on a Rs 40 crore budget, proving that while nostalgia may attract attention, it's the film itself that must deliver. Filmmakers are aware of this. Veteran director said in an interview with India Today that using a line from a popular song or poem is an easy way to connect—but it must organically suit the story. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Talking to the same news portal, lyricist Swanand Kirkire, however, has been more critical, calling the trend a 'marketing gimmick' that substitutes buzz for depth. Borrowed Lyrics, Fresh Films Some upcoming and recent films reflect this nostalgia-driven titling more clearly than ever: Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (2025) – The title, from the 1999 hit song Sona Sona (Biwi No. 1), returns in a 2025 remake of a 2003 film, betting on youthful exuberance and song familiarity to reconnect with today's audience. Saiyaara (2025) – Named after the poignant track from Ek Tha Tiger (2012), the film taps into the song's emotional depth to signal a romantic, introspective tone. Haseen Dillruba (2021) – This Netflix thriller uses a phrase from Namak Halaal's Jawani Janeman, suggesting classic romance, even as the film delivers a modern, darker narrative. De De Pyaar De (2019) – Borrowed from Sharaabi's (1984) beloved track, this film combined nostalgic familiarity with a fresh plot about age-gap romance, helping it achieve commercial success (Rs 143 crore worldwide). Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan (2025) – Though inspired by a Ruskin Bond short story, the title leans on the romantic lyric from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), priming audiences for a love story rich in emotion. Param Sundari (2025) – A clever double play, this film uses both a trending song title from Mimi (2021) and the character names (Param and Sundari), ensuring a culturally resonant hook. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024): The title is borrowed from the hook line of 'Teri Baaton'—a 2004 chartbuster by Raghav Mathur. The film modernizes the phrase in a futuristic love story, using the emotional recall of the original to attract both older fans and Gen Z listeners. Om Shanti Om (2007): The title comes from the retro classic song 'Om Shanti Om' sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1980 film Karz. Farah Khan's reincarnation drama not only paid homage to 70s Bollywood but also revived the melodramatic style of that era with a modern twist. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016): Inspired by the famous line from the Mukesh song 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan' from CID (1956), Karan Johar's film explored modern heartbreak and unrequited love—an emotional theme that resonates across generations. The Nostalgia Trade-Off While nostalgia-based titles do offer instant recall, their overuse raises concerns about creative stagnation. As one trade analyst points out, 'It's the business of feelings—packaged to look familiar, sound familiar, and feel safe.' But safe doesn't always sell. If the story behind the nostalgic title fails to resonate, the familiarity quickly turns into disappointment. In essence, these titles act as emotional triggers—a kind of cinematic shorthand meant to lure viewers. But the ultimate success of a film still depends on its substance. Nostalgia might open the door, but it's the storytelling that invites audiences to stay.
