Sara Ali Khan is no stranger to playing complex characters, each with their own quirks, conflicts, and contradictions. From the small-town charm of Somya in ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ to the layered chaos of Rinku in ‘Atrangi Re’, Sara has been on a mission to explore every shade of the modern Indian woman. In Anurag Basu’s ‘Metro… In Dino’, she slipped into the shoes of Chumki – a character that’s equal parts relatable and refreshing.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, the actor opened up about why Chumki’s story resonated deeply with her, what it was like working with the maverick Basu, and how every role is a journey of unlearning and surrendering to the magic of storytelling.
SARA ON HER CHARACTER CHUMKI
‘Chumki thinks she has it all figured out, but life has other plans’.
Sara began by reflecting on how ‘Metro… In Dino’ captures the ever-shifting terrain of modern relationships. “I think the overall theme of confusion, overthinking, and overplanning is something people will relate to a lot more today than maybe a few years ago,” she says. Chumki, she adds, is a mirror to this generation’s need to control and calculate everything, until life forces them to just let go.
“And, you know, Chumki believes she has it all figured out,” Sara shares, adding, “But life has other plans! And ultimately, her attempt to go with the flow and follow her heart is what I resonate with I find that inspiring.”
SARA CALLS ANURAG BASU ‘GENIUS’
Working with Anurag Basu, renowned for his emotional depth and whimsical storytelling, was, as expected, a dream come true. ‘Metro…In Dino’ marked their first ever collaboration. Describing him, Sara couldn’t help but call him “a true genius”.
“Basu Da is a true master, and I’ve always known that,” says Sara. She enthusiastically added, “But watching the film made me truly realise what a genius he is. It’s incredibly liberating to surrender to his vision, and trusting him comes so naturally.”
The director’s signature storytelling, she says, creates a space where actors can simply be. That sense of freedom translated directly into the rawness and vulnerability of Chumki’s character.
In ‘Metro…In Dino’, Chumki is a conflicted young woman navigating emotional abuse – both at work and in her toxic relationship with colleague Anand. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Parth (Aditya Roy Kapur), a traveller and theatre artiste.
SHE ALWAYS EXPLORES VERSATILITY
Versatility isn’t just a buzzword in Sara Ali Khan’s career – it’s a conscious pursuit. From romantic comedies to intense dramas, her roles have swung across a wide emotional spectrum, but her approach remains constant.
When asked how exciting it was to explore the many shades of herself on screen, Sara explains, “I’ve always aspired to explore versatility and have prayed for opportunities that would challenge me.”
She adds, “Whether it’s Somya, Rinku, Bambi, or Chumki, what draws me to any film is always the story. I believe I’m just one of the storytellers, and it’s my responsibility to approach each character with freshness and honesty.”
She adds, “With every new role, there’s a need to unlearn, surrender to the director’s vision, and allow yourself to flow with it. At least, that’s always what I attempt to do.”
“IT WAS A BLAST WORKING WITH ADI”
Sara’s pairing with Aditya Roy Kapur in ‘Metro… In Dino’ might’ve raised a few eyebrows initially, but on screen, the chemistry feels effortless and deeply rooted. The credit, she says, goes to the comfort and spontaneity that defined their working dynamic.
“Adi was just easy, spontaneous, and non-judgemental,” she smiles.
Sara adds, “So working with him was a blast. More than anything, Basu Da and he never forgot to fully have fun while on set, and the rest was just surrendering to Basu da and letting his magic take over.”
Ask her about the Gen Z love for Chumki (her character in Metro), and Sara beams with gratitude. She says, “I’ve always wished for roles that are versatile, different, and something that audiences will like to watch and know more about. I truly feel lucky that I’ve had the chance to explore that genre – because every character of mine has been so different from the other. The common thread has been the attempt to approach them with honesty and a sense of newness. Chumki was a result of just that.”
Besides Sara, ‘Metro…In Dino’ also features Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Anupam Kher, Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi and Neena Gupta. The film’s music has been composed by Pritam.
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