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News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Review: Shanaya Kapoor Shines In Her Debut, But Film Falls Short On Execution
Shanaya Kapoor impresses in her debut Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, a romantic drama with heartfelt performances and soulful music, but flawed execution holds it back. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, the much-anticipated debut vehicle for Shanaya Kapoor, has finally arrived. And without diving straight into the technicalities of the script, music, or narrative structure, let's get the first thing out of the way: Shanaya has done well. Her effort is visible in every frame, and it's safe to say she cries better than half of the current lot trying to pull off emotional breakdowns in films. While debut performances often get a sympathetic cushion, hers doesn't need one; her sincerity is hard to miss. Now, let's start from where the story begins. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is the story of two adults, Saba (Shanaya) and Zahan (Vikrant Massey), who meet on a train journey. More than a coincidence, it was their destiny. The movie marks Santosh Singh's directorial debut in films, as he returns to the romantic genre after the success of his series Broken But Beautiful. It also reunites him with Vikrant Massey after nearly seven years. Zahan is a blind man, while Saba has blindfolded herself to prepare for an audition. The two are heading to Mussoorie, and Saba's manager has left her alone. Now, unaware of Zahan's condition, Saba assumes he will help her out because she's alone. Amazed by the idea that, for once, someone will not sympathise with him, Zahan decides to play along without revealing his blindness. What follows is a familiar tale: hero and heroine fall in love, one leaves, years later they meet again, and then comes the forever after. This interesting premise sets the stage for what could have been a nuanced, layered love story. Instead, what unfolds is a more formulaic Bollywood narrative- boy meets girl, they fall in love, circumstances tear them apart, they reunite years later, and the story ends with the promise of forever. Shanaya Kapoor, the debutant actress, and her character share one similarity: both are delicately, passionately, and wholeheartedly in love with their work, and it shows in the film. Unlike many, Shanaya's debut didn't feel like a favour done to her. She seems to have genuinely worked hard, and her performance, though far from perfect, is not half-hearted. Vikrant Massey doesn't need an introduction. He has been delivering it, and it seems like he will continue to do so. What's different this time is his look, and, to be honest, he's serving and looking quite attractive throughout the film. This movie finally gives the audience a chance to see Vikrant in a full-on lover-boy role, which was long overdue. Watching him lip-sync and dance was a delight. There's another character in the film, Zain Khan Durrani plays Abhinav, the man Saba is dating post her fallout with Zahan. Looking at Abhinav, I just had one question: Where do we find a man this green-flag? Abhinav is the guy who only exists in every girl's dream. A guy who lets you go and get closure from your ex, a guy who makes you feel like a princess, a guy who plans the best proposal for you. Basically, he's the blueprint for what every woman wishes for, and what most men fear being compared to. Zain plays him with restraint and quiet strength, making Abhinav more than a placeholder in the love triangle. So, with a decent plot, sincere performances, and a soulful soundtrack by Vishal Mishra, where does Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan falter? In one word: execution. There are so many flaws that you can't overlook them all. Some dialogues had the audience chuckling, for all the wrong reasons. While there were a few hilarious, well-written scenes, the flawed execution has turned this into a half-baked cake: it looks tempting but isn't palatable. The situations in the film very conveniently turn to suit the leads. In one scene, Zahan orders the same pair of drinks that were spiked by a guy, and this leads to a kiss between Saba and Zahan. How convenient? In all entire Europe, Zahan gets a gig in a band where Saba is the lead dancer, how convenient? It feels like if this 2-hour-20-minute film were trimmed down to 1 hour 30 minutes, it would have earned more cheer. Vishal Mishra's music still carries that trademark innocence, which suits the film's plot. To sum up, it's the kind of film you want to like, and sometimes you almost do. But 'almost" doesn't always make the cut. First Published: July 11, 2025, 12:28 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' Box Office collection day 3: Shanaya Kapoor and Vikrant Massey's romantic drama draws lukewarm response; earns Rs 41 lakh on Sunday
Shanaya Kapoor 's big Bollywood launch in 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' was expected to make quite a splash. But three days into its release, the film's numbers show it has a long way to go. Despite the fresh pairing of Shanaya and Vikrant Massey and a unique love story, the romantic drama is finding it tough to pull crowds to cinemas. Box office collection after three days As per early estimates on Sunday, 13th July, by sacnilk, 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' managed to earn only Rs 41 lakh on its third day. This pushed its total collection to just about Rs 1.2 crore. The film had opened with Rs 30 lakh on its first day (Friday) and saw a slight growth on Saturday, collecting Rs 49 lakh. Though the weekend usually gives films a good boost, Shanaya's debut hasn't enjoyed that big jump yet. Occupancy on day 3 On Sunday, 13th July, the film's overall Hindi occupancy was recorded at 16.90%. Morning shows were quite empty at 7.40%, afternoons were a bit better at 20.09%, evenings touched 23.84%, but the night shows again dipped to 16.25%. This means not many people are stepping into theatres to watch this new love story. Facing tough competition Another reason why 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' is struggling is the strong competition at the box office. Rajkummar Rao 's 'Malik', which released on the same day, has already earned over Rs 14 crore in just three days. Meanwhile, the Hollywood biggie 'Superman' is doing even better, collecting more than Rs 25 crore in the same time. Older releases like 'Sitaare Zameen Par' and 'Metro… In Dino' are also still pulling audiences, leaving little room for Shanaya Kapoor's first film to grow. About 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' Directed by Santosh Singh , 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' offers an unusual plot. The film is set in the peaceful hills of Mussoorie and follows Saba, a theatre artist on a solo trip. In a surprising choice, Saba decides to stay blindfolded for more than two weeks, putting all her trust in a stranger she has never even seen. She meets Jahaan, who hides his impairment from her. For him, Saba's company brings a lovely sense of normal life, without pity or sympathy. This bond becomes the heart of their gentle romance. 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' review 'The Times of India' gave the film three stars, praising some parts while pointing out its flaws. The review reads, 'A theatre artiste on a solo trip to Mussoorie, blindfolded for over two weeks and relying entirely on a stranger she hasn't even seen, does stretch believability. Jahaan hides his impairment from Saba, finding in her company a rare sense of normalcy, free from pity or preconceived sympathy.' The review went on to say, 'The premise is offbeat, and if one looks past the implausibility, director Santosh Singh and writer Mansi Bagla 's film unfolds as a feel-good romance set against the serene beauty of Mussoorie in the first half. There are several light-hearted moments and poetic lines, but not all the comedy lands, and the narrative occasionally becomes repetitive.'
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan review: Shanaya makes promising debut in predictable plot
Stories about human relationships, often narrated from the lens of an author whose soul lies in the serene mountains, have a special connection with love Santosh Singh's cinematic adaptation of Ruskin Bond's short story 'The Eyes Have It' initially promises a light-hearted yet unique romance, devoid of any quintessential Bollywood tropes. However, as the story of 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' moves forward, one gets to witness all the nostalgic anecdotes from old-school 80s love Vikrant Massey plays a visually impaired musician, Jahaan, who travels to the hills of Mussoorie to seek inspiration for his renditions. During his train journey, Jahaan meets Saba (portrayed by Shanaya Kapoor), a theatre artiste who is on a solo tour while doing her character study and seeking answers through method acting. Promising debut by Shanaya KapoorThe film delves into Jahaan and Saba's bond and transformation while navigating relationships and aspirations. Massey once again brings out more to the character with his nuanced performance. The actor delivers beyond expectations, going by the vision of Santosh Singh and writer Mansi Kapoor, who makes her debut in the vintage-era-inspired romance, captures attention with her screen presence and undeniable potential. The lead actors entirely surrender to the creative sensibilities of the director and screenwriter, giving it their best its visual appeal, Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, with Vishal Mishra's soothing score, passionate glances, and intense close-up shots, raises a key question: does it live up to the expectations? Despite Tanveer Mir's stunning cinematography, does this story of unconditional love between complex individuals offer a fulfilling experience? Let's find storytelling stumbles the narrativeAcademy-Award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron once said, "When the script or direction lacks vision, even a stellar performance gets lost in the noise of bad filmmaking."While narrating an unusual story is a great attempt and must be appreciated for the courage to experiment, if the messaging and end-product doesn't sync with the narrative, the film loses the engagement quotient. 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan', starts as a simple and poised tale of opposites attract and becomes monotonous as the film progresses. In the unnecessary effort to add all the cliched tropes and over-the-top humour in the first half, the movie easily loses its what one expects to be a promising and genuine relationship ends up being cluttered with repetitive scenarios. The conviction of Jahaan and Saba's connection is not depicted in the plot or the direction. Yet, Massey and Kapoor give their best shot at bringing believability to their characters. The on-screen emotional exhange between the lovers through verbal and physical interaction is a testament to the actors' vulnerability and dedication to the trailer here: Poorly-crafted scenes, over-the-top humourKapoor shows promise and perfection in emotionally demanding scenes, showcasing her artistic maturity when it comes to acting prowess. Nevertheless, the actor's dialogue delivery and expressions go flat stereotypical screaming and shouting as part of the fatigued Bollywood banter template. It indicates the often unpredictable and unforeseen helplessness of actors while emoting poorly written lines and and Massey succeed in portraying the poetic, allegorical connection and intimacy between a visually-impaired artist and a theatre actor. But the duo completely lack the chemistry in the forced comic sequences. While Massey carried the film on his shoulders, Kapoor somehow stumbles when it comes to the over-dramatisation of Khan Durrani, who gave a grounded performance in the series 'Mukhbir-The Story of a Spy' doesn't disappoint, even though he has limited screen time. His portrayal as the flamboyant green-flag Abhinav is another proof of his acting brilliance. Unfortunately, the stretched plot of Bond's heartfelt, innocent love story doesn't do justice to the talented plot, irrelevant scenariosAfter a rather expected interval sequence, 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' becomes completely predictable in the second half. Unnikrishnan PP's editing would have helped with a more crisp and cohesive compilation. The technical aspect can't be entirely blamed, due to the lack of a solid three-act absence of a convincing conflict and closure can often hamper the soul of a well-intended story. Joel Coe Castro's score and Mishra and Kaushal Kishore's lyrics of the title track strike chords in creating the melancholy of the pain of separated lovers.'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' is surely a missed opportunity, despite the team giving it their all. However, the film is surely a one-time watch because of the on-screen camaraderie of the actors. Kapoor may not be a part of a path-breaking debut, yet shows potential and artistic finesse in comparison to her peers in Bollywood.'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' is a learning ground for aspiring writers, filmmakers and actors to understand the relevance of a well-crafted plot in order to resonate with the audiences' expectations.- Ends2.5 out 5 stars to 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan'.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' movie review: The eyes don't have it
A title like Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan spells trouble. It signals the surge of poetry about to overwhelm the screen. Conversations, voiceovers, song lyrics — everything is tuned to Radio Metaphor in Santosh Singh's romantic drama. 'She saw me not with sight, but insight,' says the hero, a visually-impaired man, of his beloved. A beat later: pyaar andha hota hai (love is blind). The film's obsession with sight-based metaphors and poetic punning becomes... a blind spot. They meet on the train to Dehra. Jahaan (Vikrant Massey) is a musician and a songwriter, low on inspiration, seeking a creative reset in the hills. The passenger opposite him, in the coupe, is Saba (Shanaya Kapoor), a theatre artiste wanting to break into Hindi films. She's wearing a blindfold (it's prep for an important audition, she says) and has resolved not to remove it till the end of her trip. Since her manager bailed at the last minute, Saba has to travel alone and unattended. This means two things: 1) method acting, not family connections, is clearly the key to Bollywood. 2) Saba doesn't realise that her co-passenger, with whom she's struck up a lively rapport, is not a sighted person. Curiously, Jahaan plays along. It's here, at this early juncture, that the film departs from its slender source material, a famous Ruskin Bond short story called 'The Eyes Have It'. The protagonist in Bond's story made a harmless game of his subterfuge, a minor pastime to be indulged on trains. Jahaan, though, is in for the long haul, as Saba joins him in Mussoorie and bunkers down in his stay. There is a near-accident. There is dancing in the rain. There's a kiss. And then, on the threshold of love, he's gone. 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' (Hindi) Director: Santosh Singh Cast: Vikrant Massey, Shanaya Kapoor, Zain Khan Durrani Run-time: 140 minutes Storyline: In this romance, a visually impaired man falls for a stranger, withholding the fact of his condition Some romances have a limited elasticity — stretch them too far and they snap in your hand. For all their awkwardness, the scenes in Mussoorie have an underlying sweetness and warmth, with merry stops at maggi and sunset points, Massey and Kapoor not as erroneously mismatched as their ages might suggest. Kapoor, making her debut, is relaxed and confident for the most part, though her crying game is strictly a B-minus (it falls behind cousin Janhvi.) Indeed, this becomes a problem when the film leaps ahead three years, to Europe, with a lot of weeping and yearning taking over the plot. We follow Saba's winter of discontent, as Jahaan re-enters her life by blind chance (sorry) and tips it over. The auditing of emotions reaches a fever pitch, with big, Bhansali-like ideas weighing down on this modest film. There is no modesty in Vishal Mishra's soundtrack, of course — a full-tilt concert of coolly curated anguish. The last time Vikrant Massey hung around trains, we got a propaganda film. The actor is in more agreeable form here, playing a flopping-haired savant with a guitar, intoning words like 'taiyaari' and 'tarakii' with the appropriate poetic flourish. For a second, I thought back to Lootera, Massey's first film, and how his precise line-readings would light up scenes alongside Ranveer Singh. Over a decade later, Massey has cracked Bollywood. But Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is not his Lootera, far from it. 'Stardom works but talent flies,' Saba says. I donno. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is currently running in theatres
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Review: Shanaya Kapoor and Vikrant Massey's efforts go in vain due to the film's sluggish screenplay and uninteresting conflict
Plot Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan tells the story of Saba (Shanaya Kapoor) and Jahan (Vikrant Massey). They meet on a train to Dehradun. Saba is a renowned theatre artist. She boards the train, blindfolded, to naturally prepare for the auditions of a movie where the protagonist is a blind girl, in the hill town of Mussoorie. Jahan's reason to board the Dehradun train is to look for inspiration in Mussoorie, for his next music album. The seamingly blind Jahan helps Saba experience the world through her other senses. Not once does he reveal to Saba that he is blind. When Saba struggles to find a hotel for herself in Mussoorie, she moves into Jahan's house. They grow close and develop feelings. But Jahan leaves mysteriously the day Saba is set to remove her blindfold. Why does Jahan leave? Why does Jahan hide his truth from Saba? Do they reunite? If yes, do they hit it out this time? Watch the movie to find the answers. What Works for Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan shines in its visuals. The scenic beauty of Mussoorie is captured beautifully. The cinematography makes every frame feel alive. The music is another highlight. Songs like Nazara and Alvida are soulful and stay with you. The playback songs, along with the cover versions of the playback songs sung by Vishal Mishra, blend well with the story. The performances feel genuine, even if they lack polish. The chemistry between Saba and Jahan seems to carry an innocent charm. The film's attempt to explore a unique relationship dynamic between a blind person and someone temporarily experiencing blindness is appreciable. What Doesn't Work for Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan's biggest issue is its length. It feels unnecessarily stretched and dragged. The screenplay is monotonous and lousy. The story meanders to hold attention. It doesn't offer anything new to the romance genre. The second half turns overly dramatic, leaning into clichéd filmy moments. This shift, strips away the realism built early on. The narrative lacks spunk, and key plot points feel underdeveloped. The emotional depth promised by the premise doesn't fully land, leaving viewers disconnected. A tighter script and sharper editing could have made a big difference. Watch Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Trailer Performances in Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Shanaya Kapoor, in her debut, is good with emotional scenes. She brings vulnerability to Saba. However, her performance needs more refinement to feel consistent. Vikrant Massey, as Jahan, is dependable as always. He portrays the character's quiet strength and hidden pain with ease. Zain Khan Durrani, playing Abhinav, delivers a mature performance. His role, though significantly smaller, adds a layer of intrigue. The supporting cast performs well but doesn't leave a lasting impact. Final Verdict of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan has a promising premise but falls short in execution. The visuals and music are good and the performances, especially from Shanaya and Vikrant, show heart. However, the film's long runtime and dull screenplay make it a tedious watch. The story starts with potential but loses its way to never find it back again. Watch Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan In Theatres Now Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan plays in theatres now. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates on Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan.
