Bollywood’s growing trend of crafting 'spiritual sequels'—films connected more by theme and tone than narrative—has found its latest chapter in Metro... In Dino, a thematic successor to Anurag Basu’s 2007 ensemble hit Life in a... Metro. While the new film features a completely fresh cast (barring Konkona Sen Sharma, who returns in a different role), it still manages to preserve a subtle emotional thread tying it back to the original.
And that connection comes in the form of a small tribute to the late Irrfan Khan—thanks to a thoughtful suggestion from Konkona herself.
Konkona Pays Ode To Irrfan Khan In Metro...In Dino
In Life in a... Metro, Konkona played Shruti, a woman navigating the world of arranged marriages, who eventually falls for the quirky and loveable Monty, played by Irrfan Khan. In Metro... In Dino, she now plays a completely new character named Kajal—opposite Pankaj Tripathi. But it’s the name of Pankaj’s character that brings it all full circle.
The character wasn’t originally called Monty, reveals director Anurag Basu in an interview with HT.
"The character was not called Monty. It was Coco's (Konkona) suggestion. 'Let's call him Monty,' she said, and I said, 'Yes, right'. It was on the first day of the shoot."
Konkona: “It Is Such a Goofy Kind of Character”
Konkona explained the intention behind her sweet suggestion, telling HT: “Because it is such a goofy kind of character,” noting the similarity in tone to Irrfan’s iconic performance in the original.
Basu, however, clarified that while the name is a nod, the character itself is different. “The character is very different, though. Just the name is the same,” he said.
Konkona added that both characters share a similar approach to love. “The whole track is humorous,” she said.
A Fresh Cast, Familiar Feel
Metro... In Dino features an ensemble cast including Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Neena Gupta, and Anupam Kher. Though each story is new, the film promises to revisit the emotional richness and urban relationship themes that defined the original.
Directed by Anurag Basu, the film is set for theatrical release on July 4.
