Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan

The film turned out to be a pleasant surprise. What I initially considered a casual time-pass viewing exceeded my expectations. With Vikrant Massey in the cast, one can usually trust the film to deliver quality, and he did not disappoint. However, the real surprise was Khushi Kapoor. At a time when many star kids are struggling to make a mark with unconvincing performances, Khushi stood out with a remarkably assured debut. She carried her role with sincerity and conviction, never once giving the impression that this was her first film. It's a one-time watch that manages to leave an impression, thanks to strong performances and moments that rise above the ordinary.

I think everyone is really curious as to how Shanaya Kapoor's acting was in her debut film. Surprisingly, it was not as bad as most debuts. That could be because her character is an unconventional role for many new actresses and their debut roles.

With that said, the story is also different and unconventional and while it could be seen as refreshing in a good way, the script writing let it down. The script did not create a story that allowed the flow and depth to be as strong as it could be. There are a few confusing parts; like why would a character want this? Why did they do the things they did? Some of the dialogue in the second half with the conflict could've been better too. And the build up of the romance could've also been stronger with a better script.

The cinematography, production, and songs lived up to a Bollywood movie. It was beautifully shot, and choosing a location like Mussorie helped the aesthetic of this romantic story.

If there was ever a film that understood the language of longing, it's this one. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is a soft melody, not a loud anthem. Vikrant Massey delivers a beautifully controlled performance-he's restrained but never distant. Shanaya Kapoor's portrayal is grounded, honest, and emotionally sincere. The film never tries too hard, and that's what makes it effective. It lets the audience come closer slowly, peeling back layers of emotion with patience and care. This is slow-burn storytelling done right. It lets the audience come closer slowly, peeling back layers of emotion with patience and care. This is slow-burn storytelling done right.

Rarely does a film come along that not only disappoints but actively challenges your patience and basic faith in storytelling. This movie-whose name is not even worth repeating-manages to do just that. It is, quite frankly, a disaster from the opening frame to the final, painfully prolonged credits. What could have been a compelling narrative about ambition, relationships, or social struggle instead spirals into a nonsensical slog with characters so poorly written, you almost wish they'd vanish halfway just to end the suffering.

Let's begin with the writing, because that's where the rot truly starts. The script is not merely bad-it's offensively lazy. Characters are one-dimensional, motivations are either non-existent or completely inconsistent, and the dialogue feels like it was copy-pasted from a WhatsApp forward. There is zero nuance. Scenes that are supposed to be emotionally resonant are rendered laughable by the sheer artificiality of the writing. You're never invited to feel anything for the characters because they're not people-they're cardboard cutouts acting out the most generic, overdone clichés imaginable.

The writers seem to have no concept of structure, pacing, or emotional progression. Plot twists arrive not because they make sense, but because the script desperately wants to appear clever. There are jarring tonal shifts that leave you wondering whether you're watching a drama, a comedy, or an unintentional parody. The narrative doesn't evolve; it meanders. Long, meaningless sequences fill time, and by the end, you realize that nothing of substance has occurred. It's like watching a train headed nowhere slowly unravel on rusty tracks.

The direction doesn't help matters. If anything, it makes the situation worse. The director seems to have approached the material with all the enthusiasm of someone forced to fulfill a contractual obligation. There is no visual style, no narrative tension, and no rhythm to the film. Scenes are stitched together with all the grace of a school project edited on Windows Movie Maker. Moments that should be powerful land flat, not because they lack potential, but because the direction is so utterly tone-deaf to what the story demands.

Let's talk about the performances-or rather, the complete lack of them. Vikrant Massey, often praised for his restrained acting and subtlety in past projects, is utterly unwatchable here. It's not entirely his fault-the writing gives him nothing to work with-but even then, his performance feels phoned-in, flat, and frustratingly devoid of any emotional range. You spend most of the film watching him drift through scenes with the blankness of someone who clearly knows this ship is sinking and just wants to get through the shoot.

His dialogue delivery lacks conviction, his expressions are robotic, and his emotional moments are so unconvincing they verge on comical. It's hard to believe this is the same actor who once showed promise in earlier films and web series. Here, he appears either miscast or completely uninterested-possibly both.

Supporting characters fare no better, though it's debatable whether the actors are at fault or the laughably shallow script. Everyone is reduced to archetypes, reacting to events like they've never met another human being in their lives. At no point do you feel like these are real people in real situations. The emotional beats are so contrived, they feel like a parody of better films that handled similar themes with actual skill.

The music is forgettable, the cinematography uninspired, and even the production design looks cheap and inconsistent. Every technical department seems to have phoned it in.

Ultimately, this movie is not just a waste of time-it's a waste of talent, money, and attention. It's the kind of film that makes you question whether the people behind it actually watched what they created. There's nothing here to recommend, not even in a "so bad it's good" kind of way. It is pure delusion dressed up as cinema, and it doesn't deserve a single star.

Avoid at all costs.

Starting was so great, at all time it seemed everything perfect Vikrant's acting, Shanaya's emotions and the script the train journey which all of us imagines. After the interval, that after 3 years part it was hard to connect suddenly from that beautiful love journey. Seems like writer wasn't paid for after the interval script. It is a beautiful movie definetly that's why I've rated 8, but it deserved 10. No matter how it performed the box office, I rarely like movies even the so called blockbuster one's seems dull and unnecessary. But this is definitely a beautiful movie to watch, but hard to connect in the ending. So all could I say acting was fabulous, the ending script is also good, but it must match or be more than the beauty of the start.