Bollywood veterans, Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher, are all set for the theatrical release of Metro… In Dino, Anurag Basu’s latest work in the Metro anthology. In the film, the duo portrays an elderly couple who fall in love, delivering a refreshing and heartfelt message that love knows no age and never expires. Ahead of the release, Neena and Anupam opened up about portraying late-in-life romance on screen and why it’s time Bollywood redefines how love is shown across generations.

Neena Gupta talks about the on-screen representation of elderly love

In an interview with Zoom TV, Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher opened up about their takes on the concept of elderly love and how it is portrayed on the screen. While romance in Indian cinema has traditionally revolved around youth and physical vitality, the veteran duo believes that mature love can be just as moving, if not more. Talking about how older couples are sometimes awkwardly portrayed, Neena said:

“Kuch filmon mein voh bhadda sa dikhta hai. Ek umra ke baad kuch cheezein nahi dikhani chahiye. Aise bohot tarike hai jinse voh emotions dikhaye jaa sakte hai. Toh voh bohot beautiful hota hai.”

Anupam Kher says love among the elderly is far more beautiful than physical intimacy

Anupam Kher echoed Neena’s sentiments, urging society to break ageist norms around love. He pointed out how Indian society often finds elderly couples expressing affection awkward, but stressed that love is timeless. According to him, beyond societal expectations and physical intimacy, love is rooted in passion and emotional connection, and this can’t be erased. In his words:

“When we think of our parents expressing love, children cringe. They forget pyaar ka jazba kyun nahi ho sakta unmein. Jab tak insaan ki imagination hai aur jazba hai mohabbat ka, toh pyaar ho sakta hai kisi bhi umra mein. Yeh emotion kabhi bhi delete nahi ho sakta. Gussa hai toh pyaar bhi hai. Humari society ek certain norm mein dekhna chahti hai uss mohabbat ko. Maybe physical love nahi dekhna chahti. Jazba pyaar ka ta-umra rehta hai.”

Anupam Kher further offered insights into the beauty of love, even if it comes at an old age, not in terms of physical aspects, but mostly for the romantic essence of it. The actor emphasised that love, in its truest form, is not limited by age or appearance. He was quoted as saying:

“100 ki umar mein bhi mohabbat ho sakti hai. We see love in its physical aspect, lekin romance toh hai. Bade bade kavi sab 70 saal ki umar mein bohot khubsurat gaane likhe hai. Aaj bhi Gulzar saab mohabbat pe kya gaane likhte hai. Love exists, and age has nothing to do with love.”

Metro… In Dino revives the idea of feel-good romance

Directed by ace filmmaker Anurag Basu, Metro… In Dino is a spiritual successor to his 2007 cult hit, Life In A… Metro. This film follows a new set of interlinked stories set in India’s bustling metro cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, and Lucknow. The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, and Saswata Chatterjee.

Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher play ‘Shibani Ghosh’ and ‘Parimal Sarkar’, a senior couple whose story in Metro… In Dino is all about reunion and rediscovery. As the oldest on-screen pair in the ensemble, they bring an emotional gravitas that is both poignant and rare in mainstream romantic films. The film is slated for a theatrical release on July 4, 2025.

What is your take on the idea of falling in love at an older age? Let us know.