Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s new romantic film, Gustaakh Ishq, released on November 28, inviting audiences into a 1990s setting filled with poetry and vintage romance. Vibhu Puri’s directorial venture faced immediate competition from the much-hyped Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, which also debuted on the same day. The initial box office performance for Gustaakh Ishq has been described as soft, with first-day earnings estimated at Rs 50 lakh. The overall Hindi film occupancy on its release day was approximately 8.61%, a figure heavily influenced by the larger release drawing significant attention. While occupancy remained consistent across morning, afternoon, and evening shows, there was a surge during late-night screenings, peaking at 20.96%. Geographical analysis shows Surat as the leading city with 23.50% occupancy, followed by Chennai at 21%. Mumbai and Delhi-NCR recorded 10.75% and 8% occupancy, respectively. Worldwide, the film’s opening day revenue is projected at Rs 60 lakh. Gustaakh Ishq is notable for its strong technical and artistic team, including music by Vishal Bhardwaj, lyrics by Gulzar, sound design by Resul Pookutty, and cinematography by Manush Nandan. The cast is further enhanced by the presence of Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi. This film also signifies Manish Malhotra’s debut as a producer, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to filmmaking.
