Gustaakh Ishq, the new romantic drama starring Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh, hit cinemas on November 28, aiming to capture the essence of 1990s romance with a blend of poetry and nostalgia. Vibhu Puri directs this period piece. The film’s launch day performance was significantly impacted by its direct competition with another major release, Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. Initial box office reports place Gustaakh Ishq’s first-day earnings at a modest Rs 50 lakh. The overall Hindi occupancy across theaters was around 8.61%, indicating a challenging start. While morning and afternoon shows showed steady but low numbers, evening and night screenings experienced a rise, with night shows reaching 20.96% occupancy. Geographic performance varied, with Surat leading at 23.50% and Chennai following at 21%. Major metropolitan areas like Mumbai registered 10.75% and Delhi-NCR at 8%. Worldwide, the film’s opening day collection is estimated at Rs 60 lakh. The film is lauded for its artistic contributions, including music by Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar’s lyrics, and sound by Resul Pookutty. The ensemble cast includes Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi, supporting the lead pair. This film also signifies the production debut of Manish Malhotra, who seeks to honor traditional narratives through contemporary cinema.
