Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s new film, ‘Gustaakh Ishq,’ a romantic drama set against the backdrop of the 1990s, premiered in cinemas on November 28th. The movie, directed by Vibhu Puri, aims to capture the essence of old-school romance, infused with poetry and a sense of nostalgia. Its theatrical launch, however, faced stiff competition from the simultaneous release of ‘Tere Ishk Mein,’ starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon.
As per preliminary box office tracking, ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ garnered approximately Rs 50 lakh on its opening day. The nationwide occupancy for Hindi films was recorded at 8.61%. While the film maintained a consistent presence throughout the day, its occupancy saw a slight rise during the evening and night shows, reaching up to 20.96% for the latter.
Analyzing city-specific performance, Surat stood out with a 23.50% occupancy rate, followed by Chennai at 21%. Mumbai reported 10.75% occupancy, and Delhi-NCR registered 8%. Globally, the film’s first-day collection is estimated at Rs 60 lakh.
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ benefits from a strong technical and artistic crew, including music by Vishal Bhardwaj, lyrics by Gulzar, sound design by Resul Pookutty, and cinematography by Manush Nandan. The ensemble cast also includes veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi, who play significant roles. This film also marks a significant milestone for designer Manish Malhotra as he ventures into film production, seeking to blend classic storytelling with contemporary cinematic approaches.