8 A.M. Metro duo Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah reunite for poignant black-and-white short film
Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah wrap their third collab: a monochrome romantic short film shot in Mumbai. The dialogue-light project is now in post-production. Title and release date coming soon.
Last Updated: 09.42 AM, Jan 07, 2026
It has been officially announced that Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah's latest collaborative effort, following the critically acclaimed 2023 feature 8 A.M. Metro, has concluded production. The three-time collaboration between Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah solidifies their beloved creative combination among independent film fans. Their future project is a short film about a romantic relationship.
Where was the film shot?
Several behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot went viral, resulting in the production—which has just concluded filming—gaining significant attention on social media. As per a report in Mid Day, this new project turned their attention to the peaceful suburbs of Mumbai, in contrast to their earlier work that documented the busy public transport networks of Hyderabad. The makers eschewed studio sets in favour of actual places, capturing the city's natural textures to reflect the film's grounded emotional story and create a true, lived-in ambiance.
The film's director, an up-and-coming talent, has characterised it more as an emotional than literal continuation of their earlier work. Though it shares themes with other works about human connection and unspoken emotions, it is its own story. One striking visual element is the film's monochrome photography, which serves to isolate the performers' faces and the mood of the situation by eliminating any other colour or light.
What where the production timelines?
The production data show that the shoot was very regimented and happened in the first week of the year. People close to the production say that the chemistry between the main performers was the key to its smooth running. "Saiyami and Gulshan share a very organic comfort level, both on and off screen," a source told mid-day. The filming period began on January 1 and ended on January 5. With a crew of one hundred, it was a highly concentrated outfit.
Success in Raj Rachakonda's 8 A.M. Metro and the 2020 Amazon Prime anthology Unpaused precede this endeavour. Actors supposedly spent more time on the emotional and mental dimensions of their parts for their third collaboration, which helped make up for the script's lack of dialogue.
How did Gulshan Devaiah and Saiyami Kher prepare for the script?
"Saiyami and Gulshan spent time working through the characters’ internal histories. Because the film relies on minimal dialogue, a lot of the prep was about understanding emotional continuity. They prepped for two weeks before the shoot," the source concluded.
Audiences are excited to witness the duo's handling of this unique, silent-leaning approach now that the film is in post-production. Fans anticipate that this black-and-white drama will be a moving addition to their resumes, given their track records of playing nuanced and vulnerable roles. In the coming weeks, the official title and release date will likely be revealed.
FAQs:
Q: Is there a sequel to the movie 8 A.M. Metro?
A: While the new project starring Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah is described as an "emotional successor" to 8 A.M. Metro, it is not a literal sequel.
Q: Where was Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah’s new short film shot?
A: Unlike 8 A.M. Metro, which was set in Hyderabad, this upcoming project was filmed in the suburbs of Mumbai. To maintain an authentic atmosphere, the director chose to use real locations rather than studio sets.
Q: How many times have Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah worked together?
A: This upcoming short film marks their third collaboration. The actors previously shared the screen in the Amazon Prime anthology Unpaused (2020) and the critically acclaimed feature 8 A.M. Metro (2023).