Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Review: Shanaya Kapoor Shines In Her Debut, But Film Falls Short On Execution

News18

21 hours ago

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
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