India FM

Mumbai, Apr 7:  The vast ensemble cast of Anurag Basu's Metro hides a delicious little secret. Dharmendra and Nafisa Ali make surprise appearances as two inmates of an old folks' home, abandoned by their children, who discover mutual love.

Dharmendra's appearance in the film is a specially guarded secret, kept away from all the publicity for Metro.

What's even less known is the fact that the ambitious Anurag Basu wanted the legendary Waheeda Rehman to star opposite Dharmendra in the special cameo.

"However," says a source, "Waheedaji has decided to quit movies completely. She promised her family that Rang De Basantiwould be her farewell movie. Waheedaji therefore had to say a regretful no to Anurag even though she has done some wonderful films with Dharmendra in her heydays."

While the legendary Waheeda's decision to quit movies may break many hearts(including that of Amitabh Bachchan who's a self-confessed Waheeda fan) director Anurag Basu’s miraculous recovery from a terminal illness is the stuff legends are made of.

Says a close friend. "Anurag was told by the doctors that he had only two weeks to live. He pulled off the oxygen mask, got up from his supposed death and walked out of the hospital to do his best work in Gangster and now Metro."