Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s much-anticipated romantic film, ‘Gustaakh Ishq,’ made its theatrical debut on November 28. Directed by Vibhu Puri, the movie aims to capture the essence of the 1990s, weaving a narrative rich in poetry, fond memories, and vintage romance. The film’s launch, however, coincided with a major box-office event: the release of ‘Tere Ishk Mein,’ starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon.
Early box office tracking for ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ suggests a modest beginning. Sacnilk reports the film collected around Rs 50 lakh on its opening day. The overall Hindi occupancy rate was recorded at 8.61%, indicating a struggle for audience attention amidst the strong competition from ‘Tere Ishk Mein,’ which experienced a massive opening day collection of Rs 16.50 crore.
Audience turnout for ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ remained relatively consistent across morning, afternoon, and evening shows, with a noticeable uptick in the night screenings, reaching approximately 20.96% occupancy. Geographic trends show Surat leading with 23.50% occupancy, followed by Chennai at 21%. Mumbai registered 10.75%, and Delhi-NCR recorded 8%.
Worldwide, ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ managed to earn Rs 60 lakh on its release day. The film is distinguished by its impressive technical and artistic contributions, featuring music by Vishal Bhardwaj, lyrical work by Gulzar, sound engineering by Resul Pookutty, and cinematography by Manush Nandan. The ensemble cast includes prominent actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi alongside the lead pair. This project also signifies the cinematic production debut of celebrated designer Manish Malhotra.