Mumbai’s metro coaches are built to move people efficiently, not to host impromptu action scenes. But a recent viral video featuring Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan briefly blurred that line and earned a public rap on the knuckles from the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL).

The clip showed the actor casually hanging from an overhead grab handle inside a moving metro train. Smiling and relaxed, he even appears to egg on others to try the same move, turning a daily commute into a light-hearted challenge. Social media, predictably, loved it. The metro authorities, not so much.

How did Mumbai metro react?

Taking to X, MMMOCL called out the behaviour as unsafe and irresponsible, reminding commuters that grab handles are meant for balance, not gymnastics. In a pointed note aimed at the actor, the metro body said the video should have carried a familiar Bollywood-style disclaimer like in Dhawan’s films. “Do Not Try This On Maha Mumbai Metro,” MMMOCL wrote on X. It warned that without such caution, the clip risked encouraging dangerous imitation.

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The authority stressed that stunts inside metro coaches can endanger not just the individual involved but also fellow passengers, especially during peak hours. It also highlighted that nuisance, unsafe behaviour or damage to metro property can attract action under the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002.

Social media reacts

As the video continued to rack up views, the public response shifted from amusement to accountability. Several social media users asked whether Dhawan had been fined and whether the rules apply equally to celebrities and ordinary commuters. “If it’s punishable, enforce it,” one user commented. Another argued that a visible penalty would send the right message.

“What’s stopping you from slapping a fine on him if it’s punishable?? Why are actors getting the leeway? Is it because they are actors? Slap a fine right now if you don’t differentiate between common man and a film star,” a comment read.

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“Is this civic sense when you travel in international metro lines? Please show some manners…Stop your cheap stunts to ruin public transport. Extremely disappointed,” another upset netizen chimed in.

Some raised a broader concern about celebrity influence. With millions of followers watching their every move, even a playful stunt can have real-world consequences. “If an actor does it, people will copy,” one comment read.