Metro In Dino has been released in theatres on July 4, 2025, marking director Anurag Basu’s return to cinema after a five-year hiatus. Metro… In Dino (transl. Metro… Nowadays) is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language musical romantic drama film written and directed by Anurag Basu, and produced by T-Series Films and Anurag Basu Productions. It is a spiritual sequel to Basu’s Life in a… Metro (2007).
The film features an ensemble cast and explores multiple heartfelt stories of contemporary couples navigating modern relationships in metropolitan cities across India.
Movie Budget and Production Details
Budget Breakdown
Gossip mill suggests Metro In Dino was initially planned at a budget of 65 crores. The makers went over budget by almost 20 crores, bringing the total production cost significantly higher than originally planned.
Budget Details:
- Initial Budget: ₹65 crores
- Final Budget: mounted on a budget of 85 crores
- Digital Rights: However, a chunk of the cost has already been recovered via digital rights, which have been sold for a whopping 40 crores
Production Timeline
Principal photography began in December 2022 and concluded in February 2024 in Delhi, which was preceded by scenes being shot at the Barog railway station, in Himachal Pradesh. The film was shot across multiple cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore.
Cast Details and Star Power
Main Cast Members
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring both established stars and talented performers:
Lead Cast:
- Aditya Roy Kapur as Parth
- Sara Ali Khan in the female lead
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Konkona Sen Sharma (retained from the original 2007 film)
- Anupam Kher
- Neena Gupta
- Ali Fazal
- Fatima Sana Shaikh
Konkana Sen Sharma was retained from the original film. Anurag Basu cast Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur and Fatima Sana Shaikh once again after appearing together in the Netflix original Ludo (2020).
Detailed Cast Salary Breakdown
Highest Paid Actors
As per a report by ABP, Aditya Roy Kapur is the highest-paid member of Anurag Basu’s romantic-musical drama. He took home a sum of around 5-6 crores for his role as Parth.
1. Aditya Roy Kapur – ₹5-6 Crores
- Role: Lead male protagonist (Parth)
- Salary Range: According to an ABP News report, Aditya Roy Kapur usually charges Rs 5 to 6 crore for his roles in films and is reported to be in the same range
- Position: Highest-paid actor in the film
2. Pankaj Tripathi – ₹4 Crores
- Salary: Pankaj Tripathi has reportedly received an amount of Rs 4 crore
- Position: Second highest-paid actor
- Notable: But it’s Pankaj Tripathi who steals the show. There’s a certain innocence to him that helps him big time, and performance-wise, he’s outstanding. In fact, this is one of his most accomplished performances ever
3. Sara Ali Khan – ₹3 Crores
- Salary: Interestingly, his romantic interest, Sara Ali Khan, was paid 3 crores, which is about 50% less than Aditya Roy Kapur
- Role: Female lead opposite Aditya Roy Kapur
- Collaboration: First-time pairing with Aditya Roy Kapur
4. Anupam Kher – ₹3-5 Crores
- Salary Range: Veteran actor Anupam Kher has charged between Rs 3 to 5 crore for his role in the film
- Status: One of the veteran actors in the ensemble
Supporting Cast Salaries
5. Konkona Sen Sharma – ₹75 Lakh to ₹1 Crore
- Salary: Konkona Sen Sharma has reportedly been charged between Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore for her role. She is the only actor from Life in a Metro who has been part of the sequel
- Special Status: Only returning cast member from the original 2007 film
6. Fatima Sana Shaikh – ₹1 Crore
- Salary: Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh is rumoured to have received a paycheck of Rs 1 crore for her role in the film
7. Ali Fazal – ₹25-30 Lakhs
- Salary: Actor Ali Fazal has reportedly been paid between Rs 25 to 30 lakhs
- Screen Time: Ali Fazal leaves a huge mark but has very limited screen time
8. Neena Gupta – ₹5-10 Lakhs
- Salary: Veteran actress Neena Gupta reportedly received Rs 5 to 10 lakh
Box Office Performance and Expectations
Opening Day Performance
Metro… In Dino had an overall 13.62% Hindi Occupancy on Friday, July 04, 2025, indicating a moderate start at the box office.
Daily Show Breakdown:
- Morning Shows: 8.64%
- Afternoon Shows: 14.24%
- Evening Shows: 17.99%
- Night Shows: 0%
Box Office Targets
Talking about the box office target for Metro In Dino, Rohit Jaiswal stated, “For the film to break even at the box office, it needs to collect at least Rs 70 crore.”
Financial Projections:
- Break-even Target: ₹70 crores
- Opening Day Prediction: As per his prediction, the movie is likely to mint Rs 2-3 crores on the opening day (July 4)
Critical Reception and Reviews
Positive Reviews
On the whole, METRO…IN DINO stands out as a refreshing, one-of-a-kind musical entertainer that thrives on its relatable characters, engaging mix of humour and drama, and stellar performances. At the box office, it’s well-positioned to resonate strongly with multiplex audiences.
Critical Praise:
- There has been a scarcity of love stories in Bollywood and Metro In Dino, elevated by some fine performances, fills that gap perfectly. It is a breezy, intimate watch tailor-made for rainy days
- It’s not every day that we get to see a Bollywood love story written with so much heart, maturity, intensity, intimacy and subtlety. Metro In Dino is a masterclass on modern-day love
Audience Response
While viewers praised the strong performances and emotional depth of the film, some felt the pace was a bit slow in parts. Several viewers appreciated the film’s contemporary storytelling and strong performances.
Audience Feedback:
- “I really liked the movie. It started off a bit slow with the musical portion, but the second half was really, really good. Anurag Basu’s direction is amazing as always. Konkona Sen and Pankaj Tripathi were my personal favourites”
Mixed Reactions
The film has been receiving a lot of mixed reaction online. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) expressed their opinion about the film. Some fans appreciated the individual performances of the actors, while some compared the film to its predecessor and felt disappointed.
Metro In Dino represents a significant investment in contemporary storytelling with its impressive ensemble cast and substantial budget of ₹85 crores. Aditya Roy Kapur charges 50% higher salary than Sara Ali Khan, establishing him as the film’s primary star draw.
The film has received generally positive reviews for its performances, particularly Pankaj Tripathi’s standout role, and its mature handling of modern relationships. While the box office performance remains to be seen, the film’s strong digital rights sale of ₹40 crores has already provided significant cost recovery for the producers.
With its musical romantic drama format and ensemble cast approach, Metro In Dino aims to fill the gap in Bollywood’s contemporary love story offerings while serving as a worthy spiritual successor to the acclaimed 2007 original.