Border 2’ to ‘Metro In Dino’: Bollywood sequels that took a decade to arrive

Bollywood's fascination with sequels has led to a unique trend- revisiting beloved stories after a decade or more. In recent years, several sequels have emerged, breathing new life into iconic characters and storylines. While some, like 'Gadar 2' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', have already hit the screens, others, such as 'Metro In Dino', are eagerly awaited.

As these delayed sequels navigate the changed cinematic landscape, a crucial question arises- do they still resonate with audiences? This story delves into the performance of these belated sequels at the box office, examining whether the wait was worth it and if they managed to recapture the magic of their predecessors. 

Metro In Dino

Anurag Basu’s commercial success ‘Life in a… Metro’ is returning with its sequel, titled ‘Metro In Dino.’ While the original film, which was released in 2007, starred an ensemble cast comprising Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kay Kay Menon, and others, the sequel will feature Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. Set for a release in November, Sara shared a glimpse from the sets of the movie on Saturday by posting a goofy picture on social media. 

Border 2

One of the highly anticipated sequels is that of filmmaker JP Dutta’s epic war film ‘Border.’ Released in 1997, the film is based on the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, and Akshaye Khanna were the lead cast in this ensemble project. Now, almost three decades later, the makers are ready with its sequel, ‘Border 2,’ with Deol returning to the franchise. Also joining him is Varun Dhawan. 

Gadar 2

Director Anil Sharma created history upon the release of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues,’ which hit theaters in August 2023. The sequel surpassed its prequel in terms of its box office collection, becoming the fifth highest-grossing film of 2023 and the eighth highest-grossing film of all time. The 2002 film ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha,’ featured Amrish Puri, Ameesha Patel, and Deol in leading roles, with Patel and Deol reprising their characters for the sequel.

Hera Pheri 3

One of the most successful Hindi film franchises is ‘Hera Pheri.’ Starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Shetty in the leading roles, the original and its sequel were released in 2000 and 2006, respectively. Almost two years after ‘Phir Hera Pheri,’ the makers are all set to return with its third installment, ‘Hera Pheri 3.’ The standalone sequel is in the making, with Kartik Aaryan and Sanjay Dutt joining the cast.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, and Shiney Ahuja starrer ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ (2007) was a major success at the box office and one of the most-loved Indian horror-comedies. Directed by Praiyadarshan, it was released in 2007. Later, Anees Bazmee directed the standalone sequel, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ with Kartik Aaryans, Kiara Advani, and Tabu. The film went on to become the fourth highest-grossing film of 2022. Aaryan is returning to the franchise’s third installment, which too will be directed by Bazmee. Tripti Dimri will be playing the female protagonist, while Balan will have a special cameo. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is slated for October 31 release.