Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s romantic drama ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ released in cinemas on 28 November. Directed by Vibhu Puri, the film brings the charm of the 1990s alive, blending poetry, nostalgia, and old-school romance. However, the film faced a tough clash at the box office with Dhanush and Kriti Sanon’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’. Let’s see how it performed on its first day.
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ box office collection day 1
According to early estimates from Sacnilk, ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ earned just Rs 50 lakh on its opening day. The overall Hindi occupancy stood at 8.61%. The low numbers are mainly due to its clash with Anand L Rai’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, which earned Rs 16.50 crore on the same day. Despite the slow start, the weekend is crucial and the film may see a rise in earnings if word-of-mouth spreads.
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ cast
The film features Vijay Varma as Nawabuddin, Fatima Sana Shaikh as Minni, Naseeruddin Shah as Aziz/Babba, and Sharib Hashmi as Attachie.
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ story
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ tells the story of Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman, played by Vijay Varma, who is trying to save his father’s printing press in the heart of Purani Delhi. In the process, he becomes a disciple of Aziz, a retired poet played by Naseeruddin Shah, and falls in love with Aziz’s daughter Minni, a teacher played by Fatima Sana Shaikh.Torn between love and honoring his mentor, Nawabuddin must make a choice that could change his life forever. The film tries to capture the charm of slow, old-school romance in a pre-mobile, pre-internet era, with a strong focus on Urdu poetry and the aesthetics of Old Delhi and fading Punjabi mansions.
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ review
The Times of India gave the film 3.5/5 stars. A part of the review reads,“In an era dominated by loud action films and formula-heavy horror comedies, ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ feels like a breath of fresh air. It nudges your attention back to people, conversations, and small emotions. The exchanges between Nawabuddin and Aziz form the quiet backbone of the film, and the shayari recited by Shah—written by Ashok Singh Mizaz—adds to its lingering appeal. There is real pleasure in watching Shah and Varma share the frame as mentor and student. Yet, for a film rooted in both drama and romance, the two never fully bloom. The interval point, meant to be a turning point, passes without leaving much of a mark. The love story between Nawabuddin and Minni unfolds so subtly that it often feels like an afterthought. The film means well and sets the right mood, but the screenplay rarely finds the sharp emotional peaks it so clearly reaches for.”
