Filmmaker Anurag Basu opens up about bringing the sequel to his 18-year-old hit Life in a Metro and also reveals how late Irrfan Khan inspired him and pushed him to make Metro… in Dino.
Indian cinema is healing from the pan-India masala entertainers phase and we are finally seeing slice-of-life romantic dramas, rom-coms on the big screen. Filmmaker Anurag Basu is also excited as he will soon be bringing the subway. In Dino, which is the spiritual successor to his 2007 Life in a Subway. Ahead of the release, Anurag along with Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkana Sen Sharma and Ali Fazal join DNA India for an exclusive interaction.
Anurag Basu wanted the return of human drama on the big screen
Anurag also expresses his sigh of relief from the Maar-Dhaad entertainers and states that he also wanted to see something similar to Metro on the big screen. The director says, “Main Bhi as an audience, Miss Kar Raha Tha Aisi Film to watch in theatres. Ek filmmaker Sabse Phele Yehi Sochta Hai Ki Woh Kya Dekhna Pasand Karta Hai, Aur Phir Woh Waisi Hi Film Banata Hai.”
The gangster director further adds that he never thought of making a sequel to Metro, “Aisa Nahi tha I always planned Ki’s life in a sequel of Metro Ki Banegi. Time Time Pehle Aayi Thi Film. Logon Ko Shayad Yaad Bhi na, but when I started thinking about what follows, metropolonist.
Anurag Basu reveals Irrfan inspired him for the subway sequel
Basu then reveals the person who inspired him to make Metro in Dino. The director says that the seed of Metro in Dino was sown by none other than the late Irrfan. Recalling Irrfan’s excitement for the film, Anurag says, “The idea of Metro should have a sequel came from Irrfan.” He continues, “I remember he wanted to kill time between his two meetings. He casually called me and asked me where I was. He liked my editing studio. So he came and we started talking, and that’s when he told me that ‘Metro should continue’.”
Anurag recalls how his nudge inspired him to start Metro in Dino. “At that time, he was shooting for Qarib Qarib, and his character was an extension of his role in Metro. He told me ‘Yaar Banath Hai’. It made me start thinking about the sequel. So I started working on it.”
Basu wrote a draft of Konkana and Irrfan, and that was his first story for Metro in Dino. “The first story I thought of was Koko (Konkana) and Irrfan. But the story of Bani Nahi, AB Shayad Aage Banegi Ya Nahi, Pata Nahi. But that’s how it all started.” Metro in Dino will release in theatres on July 4.
