Anurag Basu has returned to the big screen with Metro In Dino, a spiritual successor to his acclaimed 2007 film Life in aMetro. Revisiting familiar themes of urban love, heartbreak, and modern relationship struggles, the new ensemble drama brings together an impressive cast including Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sara Ali Khan. However, despite the list of impressive actors, the film had a subdued start at the box office. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Metro In Dino earned Rs 3.35 crore on its opening day.
The overall occupancy on first day stood at 17.99%, with morning shows recording a modest 8.64%. Attendance steadily picked up during the day, with afternoon and evening shows hitting 14.24% and 17.99% respectively, and peaking at 31.09% during the night shows. Surprisingly, major markets like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai lagged, with occupancies at just 19.25% and 19.50%.
While the opening day numbers are higher than Basu’s earlier film Life in a Metro, which debuted with Rs 87 lakh in 2007 and eventually earned approximately Rs 24 crore globally, Metro In Dino falls well short when compared to some of his more recent work. His last theatrical release, Jagga Jasoos, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, opened to Rs 8.57 crore, which at the time was itself considered a tepid start. The new film has also underperformed compared to Sara Ali Khan’s last theatrical outing Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, which opened at Rs 5.49 crore.
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Adding to its challenges, Metro… In Dino is facing stiff competition at the box office. Jurassic World Rebirth had a strong debut with Rs 9 crore on its opening day and is expected to maintain momentum. Meanwhile, films from the previous week continue to hold ground: Kajol’s Maa earned Rs 1 crore on Day 8, while Brad Pitt’s high-octane F1 collected Rs 3.50 crore on its eighth day and remains a popular choice among viewers. Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, now in its third week, is also going well as it grossed a staggering Rs 137 crore in wop weeks.
With 2025 entering its second half, Metro In Dino marks another lukewarm box office entry in what has been a mixed year for Bollywood. Only Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava has earned blockbuster status so far, grossing Rs 585 crore. Raid 2 trails far behind with Rs 173 crore, while Sitaare Zameen Par is poised to join the list of top performers if it sustains its current pace. Still, the year is shaping up to be another blend of fewer hits and more misses.
Metro In Dino does have a few things working in its favour: an already popular soundtrack and relatively positive word-of-mouth. But its true test lies ahead. As per a report by Pinkvilla, the film was made on a budget of Rs 100 crore, Rs 85 crore for production and Rs 15 crore for advertising. Given its underwhelming start, Metro In Dino will need a strong weekend and sustained weekday momentum to recover its costs and make a meaningful impact at the box office.
