Zee Studios, Mini Films and Open Window Films’ Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (UA) is a love story. Jahan Bakshi (Vikrant Massey) meets Saba Shergill (Shanaya Kapoor) on a train journey. Circumstances force them to stay together for some days, during whuch they fall in love with each other. While Jahan knows everything about Saba, she doesn’t know one aspect of his life, which, he feels, may not go down well with her. Jahan, therefore, walks out of Saba’s life. Their paths cross once again in a foreign land after several years. By then, Saba has moved on and is now in a relationship with Abhinav (Zain Khan Durrani). What happens thereafter? Does Saba live happily ever after with Jahan or with Abhinav? And what was that one aspect about Jahan’s life, which Saba was unaware of? Does she get to know about it when they meet after years?
The film is based on Ruskin Bond’s story, The Eyes Have It. Mansi Bagla has written a story which is quite fresh but also improbable and, therefore, implausible, if one might say so. The screenplay, penned by Mansi Bagla, Santosh Singh and Niranjan Iyengar, is nice up to a point, after which it appears too stretched and even forced at several points. The implausibility factor keeps coming in the way of the audience’s enjoyment. The scenes between Jahan and Saba in the foreign country lack the fire and the heartfelt emotion. Similarly, the scene in which Saba dances with Abhinav while Jahan is playing the piano does not tug at the heart strings because all three of them are aware of the reality — and what’s more, each of them knows that the other two know that s/he knows everything. The weakest part of the screenplay is that although it is a love story in which there is separation, it does not make the viewers cry at all. The drama takes too long to reach the climax and hence bores after a point of time. The audience gets the feeling that the characters are being thrown around like ping pong balls unnecessarily. The trio’s dialogues are excellent at several places. Having said that, it must be added that they are too philosophical at times.
Vikrant Massey shines, as always, in the role of Jahan Bakshi. He is so natural that it is delightful to watch him perform. Thanks to his genuine acting, his character becomes very endearing. Shanaya Kapoor looks pretty and has good screen presence. She makes a confident debut in the role of Saba Shergill. Zain Khan Durrani is very ordinary in the role of Abhinav. He doesn’t quite impress — neither with his presence nor with his performance. Bharti Sharma lends decent support as Noor, but, frankly, there was no need for the character of Noor in the drama. Rehmatt Rattan is so-so in an inconsequential role as producer Tanya. Saanand Verma is fairly entertaining as Saukhilal but he disappears after some time for no apparent reason. Rajesh Jais passes muster in a tiny role as Saba’s father. Vikram Kochar is wasted as Prashant. Others are passable.
Santosh Singh’s direction is average. While he knows the craft of film direction, he should bear in mind that brevity is the soul of not just wit but also a box-office hit. He takes too long to come to the point. Vishal Mishra’s music is very melodious. The songs are soulful but the numbers don’t have haunting melodies, which is what could’ve made a world of a difference. Lyrics (Vishal Mishra and Kaushal Kishore) are weighty. Vishnu Deva’s choreography is fair. Joel Crasto’s background music is quite nice but should’ve been more impactful. Tanveer Mir’s cinematography is very good. Sheetal Duggal’s production designing, and Pranay Chaure’s art direction are of standard. Unnikrishnan P.P.’s editing ought to have been sharper.
On the whole, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan does not have the soul which a love story of this kind should’ve had. As such, it will go largely unnoticed.
Released on 11-7-’25 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Zee Studios. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was not up to the mark at most of the places.
