Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is a Hindi-language romantic drama directed by Santosh Singh, written by Mansi Bagla, and produced under the banners of Zee Studios, Mini Films, and Open Window Films.
Inspired by Ruskin Bond’s beloved short story The Eyes Have It, the film transports the literary classic into a contemporary cinematic setting, with a focus on emotional restraint and sensory storytelling.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Plot
Vikrant Massey leads as Jahaan, a blind musician with a gentle soul, while Shanaya Kapoor makes her much-anticipated debut as Saaba, a spirited theater artist who hides her own visual impairment.
The story begins on a picturesque Himalayan train, where Jahaan and Saaba find themselves sharing a compartment. Jahaan is reserved, introspective, and used to moving through the world without sight. Saaba, in contrast, is vivacious and curious, masking her own blindness with theatrical flair. Neither confesses their condition to the other, and yet, through their animated conversations and playful banter, they strike an unexpected connection.
As the train snakes through mist-covered landscapes, their dialogue turns deeper. Jahaan speaks of melodies and missed opportunities, while Saaba dreams aloud about the stage. Slowly, the barrier between strangers dissolves. There’s warmth in their silences, and intimacy in the details they choose to share. The compartment becomes a cocoon where neither feels the need to explain, perform, or apologize.
What they don’t know, though the audience does, is that they are both blind. And it is this shared, unspoken truth that gives the film its central tension. When they part ways at a sleepy station, a casual remark from a fellow passenger quietly delivers the reveal: each of them thought the other could see. But the twist is not treated as a gimmick. Instead, it reframes the entire experience, asking whether their connection was real despite being built on a fragile assumption.
The narrative then extends beyond the train through gentle flashbacks and parallel tracks, showing how that brief encounter transforms them. It explores the lingering imprint of a near-love story, how sometimes, even the most fleeting of connections can leave us permanently changed. The film raises quietly profound questions: Can love exist in absence of sight? Is vulnerability still genuine if it’s unintentionally shared? And above all, does being seen—truly seen—require eyes at all?
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Performances
Vikrant Massey carries the film with a performance full of quiet strength and emotional precision. Known for his deeply internal roles, he brings gravitas to Jahaan, blending charm with melancholy. He resists the temptation to overplay blindness, instead relying on subtleties—small head turns, careful pauses, the stillness in his reactions. Massey’s portrayal feels lived-in and sincere, and despite the film’s slow pace, he never disengages from the emotional core.
Shanaya Kapoor’s debut as Saaba is noteworthy, even if uneven. There’s a natural earnestness in her performance, especially in the first half where she balances playfulness with vulnerability. Her theatre background within the film gives her a character license to be expressive, and she uses that to good effect. However, in more emotionally complex scenes—particularly in the film’s second half—her inexperience shows. Some of her reactions feel rehearsed, lacking the depth needed to match Massey’s layered intensity. That said, for a debutante navigating such emotionally delicate material, she brings poise and potential.
Their chemistry is tender, if not electric—more believable in the quiet exchanges than in the dramatic peaks. Aided by months of prep and workshops, their on-screen rapport holds the film together, especially in its more intimate moments. Zain Khan Durrani and other supporting actors offer competent support, though they largely stay in the background.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Analysis
As an adaptation, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan stays loyal to the emotional spine of Bond’s short story, but perhaps too loyal at times. Expanding a 20-minute narrative into a 138-minute film requires invention but the film opts for atmosphere over narrative propulsion. While the mood is poetic and the pacing intentionally measured, it often risks drifting into languor.
Tanveer Mir’s cinematography is one of the film’s most consistent strengths. The close framing and diffused lighting lend the visuals a dreamlike quality, evoking a world perceived more through emotion than image. There’s a tactile beauty in how the film captures touch, breath, even stillness emphasizing what it means to feel rather than see.
The music by Vishal Mishra is elegantly woven into the narrative. Songs like “Alvida” and “Nazara” don’t just decorate the film; they expand its emotional dimension. “Alvida,” in particular, uses silence between notes to echo the emotional restraint of its characters. The soundtrack becomes an emotional bridge when words—and sight—aren’t enough.
Yet, the film stumbles in moments that feel manufactured rather than organic. A blindfolded dance sequence, intended to heighten intimacy, instead feels slightly overwrought. Similarly, some moments of physical closeness veer too close to stylization, undermining the otherwise grounded tone. The script also lacks dynamic tension—there is no external conflict, and internal stakes, while present, are handled so delicately that they sometimes slip through the cracks.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Verdict
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is a film built on whispers rather than declarations. Its heart lies in its restraint, in its exploration of what it means to be understood in the absence of sight. Vikrant Massey’s sensitive portrayal anchors the story, while Shanaya Kapoor makes an honest first impression. The technical craft from sound design to visual composition largely supports the film’s introspective mood.
However, the adaptation’s loyalty to its source material comes at the cost of narrative momentum. The runtime feels indulgent, and several creative choices fall just short of their intended poignancy. The film lingers, but doesn’t always land. It’s sincere, but occasionally shapeless.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan offers tender moments and soulful storytelling, but ultimately feels like a delicate sketch stretched into a full canvas. It’s a film that feels more than it moves beautiful in parts, but never quite stirring as a whole. Film will find it tough at box office due to slow pace and no pre release buzz.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Rating
Critics Rating: 2.5/5
Box Office Rating: 1.5/5
(Also read: Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Trailer: Vikrant Massey And Shanaya Kapoor’s Chemistry Is Electrifying In This Intriguing Romantic Drama! WATCH)
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