Showing posts with label Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. Show all posts
Shanaya Kapoor on her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: "What happens commercially does hurt you"
10:35 AM
The actor says her first movie meant everything to her, even though it underperformed at the box office
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 20, 2025)
Even with her Kapoor lineage, actor Shanaya Kapoor hasn’t had an easy start in the movies. She was first set to debut in Bedhadak, which was shelved, followed by actor-filmmaker Mohanlal’s pan-India project Vrushabha, which also didn’t take off. She finally debuted this year with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, which fell short of expectations, but she remains unperturbed.
Shanaya shares, “The moment my movie came out was everything. The love I got was so much. It was everything I was waiting for. Once it released, I took a deep breath and finally exhaled. There was so much tension in me for almost five years before that.”
The 26-year-old adds that she has no regrets about beginning her journey with this film: “Of course, what happens commercially does hurt you. I was getting messages like, ‘things will get better’. But I was just beaming with joy, because I truly did give the movie my all. For me, it’s a proud movie made with love.”
I felt bad seeing Shanaya struggle; ek film ruk gayi, doosri delay hui-Sanjay Kapoor
8:15 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 24, 2025)
Actor Sanjay Kapoor has been enjoying his second innings, having marked 30 years in the industry and turning 60 last week (October 17). Calling this “the best phase” of his career, he tells us: “Today, makers believe in me, saying ‘Sanjay yeh role kar lega’. That’s my achievement in this milestone year.”
This also coincides with the year his daughter, Shanaya Kapoor (25), made her debut, which Sanjay calls part of “the universe’s plan”. But he admits that her journey hasn’t been easy: “I never tag my early days as a struggle, but felt really overwhelmed when her first film got shelved after a big announcement.”
Shanaya was originally supposed to debut in Karan Johar’s Bedhadak, which was announced in 2022 but was later shelved.
He adds, “It was very tough for Shanaya. Jo film aani thi woh ruk gayi, phir doosri film mein bhi kuch delay hua. I felt bad seeing her struggle.”
Her second project, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, was delayed before releasing in July. But finally seeing her debut was an emotional moment for Sanjay: “When I saw her onscreen, she was beyond my expectations. I just cried. Her hard work shows on screen. I am proud of her.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: AANKHON KI GUSTAAKHIYAN by FENIL SETA
4:15 PM
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan rests on an interesting idea. The first half has its share of lovely moments. Yes, the film gets silly in some places but you might give it the benefit of doubt. Sadly, these silly moments take centre stage in the second half. Things happen at random and don't be surprised if there is unintentional laughter in cinemas during serious scenes. The songs are well-intentioned but fail to stir up emotions. Vikrant Massey, as always, is superb and rises above the script. Shanaya Kapoor makes a confident debut. To be blindfolded for a major part of your debut vehicle is a risk and it pays off. However, she is made to mouth childish dialogues. Zain Khan Durrani is strictly okay. Saanand Verma leaves a mark. All in all, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is a disappointing piece of work.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 890
11:24 PM
WILL SUPERMAN, MAALIK AND AANKHON KI GUSTAAKHIYAN CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The last three weeks have been great for the film industry. It all started with Sitaare Zameen Par working at the box office. The following week, F1: The Movie emerged as a surprise hit. Maa underperformed but did pull in a significant audience. Last week's Jurassic World: Rebirth, as expected, scored a sixer. Metro...In Dino had a slow opening but the way it has held on weekdays has been a pleasant surprise.
This week, three major films are up for release, with Superman being the biggest of them. It's not as big a series in India but nevertheless, the character is popular and known among the Indian population. Also, the Western reviews have been very positive. The bookings in India have been encouraging. It'll open less than Jurassic World: Rebirth and more than F1: The Movie. In other words, an opening of Rs. 7-8 crores is expected. If the word of mouth is strong, it can have a weekend of Rs. 25 crores.
Maalik stars Rajkummar Rao in a never-before-seen action avatar. His look has been appreciated but the film has not been able to generate excitement. However, since it's in the massy zone, it'll get a lot of theatres in B and C centres. The makers have provided a discount of Rs. 100 and that should attract more people than expected. It should open at Rs. 2.50-3 crores.
Lastly, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan stars Vikrant Massey and marks the debut of Shanaya Kapoor. The film looks like a clean love story and rests on an interesting idea. However, though the awareness is there, the buzz is very limited. It is also facing show-sharing issues since there are so many exciting releases around. Even Maalik has gone through this issue.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan will open at around Rs. 1-2 crores and will have to have a great word of mouth to jump big time.
Shanaya Kapoor comes from film royalty but is so much more than that-Vikrant Massey
9:19 AM
Vikrant Massey on stepping out of his comfort zone and finding fresh inspiration in debutante Kapoor
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 6, 2025)
Vikrant Massey has been friends with the unconventional for so long that it’s the quintessential that makes him nervous. Naturally, he was hesitant to board Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, his upcoming romantic drama opposite debutante Shanaya Kapoor.
“The last time I did something like this was Broken But Beautiful, directed by Santosh Singh, who has directed me in this as well! Though I did Haseen Dillruba, which also had romance, it was a thriller. But this is a quintessential Bollywood love story with lip-sync songs. I told my producers that I have never done lip-sync songs. Nor have I outrightly romanced someone on screen. I wasn’t sure I would be able to pull it off,” he begins.
But his body of work is proof enough that he loves a challenge. With Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan, the challenges were many, the biggest being his character of a visually-challenged man.
“Eyes play such an integral role in a romance. So, I wondered how I would be able to do that. But as much as I was jittery about taking it up, it also felt exciting. Unfortunately, in the world of cinema, visually-challenged people haven’t been represented rightly enough. The dignity they deserve and the challenges that eventually become part of their life are not shown. So, to play this authentically was the biggest challenge,” he shares.
The film also fits perfectly into the actor’s pursuit of collaborating with debut voices, Massey points out. “It is human nature to get complacent sometimes. If you observe my filmography, you will note that if I am doing four films a year, [at least in one film], I collaborate with a first-time writer-director. It is so that I can unlearn things and recalibrate myself,” he says, adding that his new work made sure he was surrounded by newcomers.
Besides Kapoor and the director, who is making his film debut with Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan, “most of the HoDs were first-timers”. “You learn so much from them that a lot of things that are redundant in you get removed,” he says.
It’s natural for a newcomer to feel the pressure of sharing screen space opposite an established actor, but Massey tells us that he, in fact, felt the pressure opposite Kapoor.
“Shanaya is such a good person. I hope I am able to justify her dreams and aspirations, has a good time working with me, and it justifies her wait. She is extremely talented, hardworking and sincere. She knew everyone’s lines in the film,” he says, adding that working with Kapoor inspired him. “The amount of involvement and fire she had completely dissolved all my complacency, if there was any. She comes from film royalty but is so much more than that.”
People still ask me, 'Why did you retire?'-Vikrant Massey
8:00 AM
Vikrant Massey opens up about the past few years, leaving him feeling burnt out, and how people misconstrued his announcement of taking a break as retirement
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 27, 2025)
In December 2024, Vikrant Massey did what was an anomaly in the cut-throat business of Bollywood — the actor announced that he was taking a break from movies. Expectedly, it sparked shock among his fans and colleagues. Six months on, he is promoting his next, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. That has left many confused, who misconstrue that Massey had retired. He begins, “People still ask me, ‘Why did you retire?’”
The actor is amused that his announcement was misunderstood by so many. “Which part of my post did people not understand? Maybe they are not used to seeing actors taking a break, but I want to better myself. I wanted to take that break. I had mentioned in my post that there are two films I’d be working on, one of which was Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. Two months after announcing my break, I started shooting for it,” he says.
Massey reveals he had turned down many projects leading up to the announcement. “Post 12th Fail [2023] and The Sabarmati Report [2024], a lot of films were coming my way. I can’t do 10 films a year. So, that post was to convey to filmmakers that I needed some time off. Many were shocked to hear a no from me.”
More importantly, slowing down was crucial for the actor’s sanity. With seven releases in the past two years, including successes in 12th Fail and Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba (2024), he felt the need to pause.
“It was not something I decided overnight. There was a burnout. I wanted to spend time with my family. Also, I [saw] the love coming in from the audience. I want to be worth their time. But when I’m getting burnt out, how can I face the camera and keep repeating the same thing?”
The actor wrapped up Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, co-starring Shanaya Kapoor, in March. White, a biopic on spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is due to roll only in August, giving him enough time to re-energize himself. So, where does that leave Don 3? “It’s too early to talk about it,” he smiles.
I value this chance more as I got it after delays-Shanaya Kapoor
8:05 AM
Debuting with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Shanaya Kapoor admits her path as a star kid may be easier than others, but had its lows when her first film got shelved
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 25, 2025)
"Finally,” exclaims Shanaya Kapoor when we get on a call with her, weeks before her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’s release. She has been waiting to foray into Bollywood for the past three years, but life had other plans. Today, as her maiden Hindi film is ready, the newbie — daughter of Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor — admits she can’t get enough of it.
“Every day I log on to YouTube and watch myself on screen. I’m not going to lie; my dad and I get teary-eyed,” she grins.
The happy tears are understandable considering it has been a long road to this point. In 2022, Shanaya was to be launched with Karan Johar’s production Bedhadak, but it got shelved. Heartbreaking as the episode was, strangely it led her to director Santosh Singh’s romantic drama opposite Vikrant Massey.
She recalls, “It was a matter of five to six days where we had begun shooting. But due to COVID and various other reasons, that film didn’t come into fruition. Post that, I was giving auditions. I auditioned for another project, and the casting director sent the tape across to Santosh Singh. When I look back at it now, I realise why things didn’t happen then and why they are happening now. I feel much better prepared as an actor.”
She says that instead of dwelling on projects that didn’t work out, she used the years in between to work on her craft. “I worked to get better so that the day I get that opportunity, I’m ready for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I never took it for granted.”
Many may argue that her debut, though delayed, was inevitable. After all, she comes from one of the most prominent film families. “I do come from a film family and understand what that means. I had access and opportunity. But that access doesn’t mean guaranteed acceptance. At the end of the day, the audience has to accept me. I have to earn my place through a lot of hard work,” she insists, adding, “I value this chance a lot more because I got it after delays. I’ve had my ups and downs before coming here today. Having said that, I’m aware that it’s much easier for me compared to others.”
Vikrant Massey told me that only I see him as a romantic hero-Santosh Singh
10:37 AM
Director Santosh Singh reveals Vikrant Massey joined Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan as he was keen to front a romantic drama after a spate of hard-hitting films
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 9, 2025)
A lot has changed in Vikrant Massey’s life between his 2018 web series, Broken…But Beautiful, and the upcoming Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. But one thing has remained unchanged, says Santosh Singh, who helmed both offerings. He points out that after Broken…But Beautiful, the actor hasn’t featured in a tender, aching love story. That was one of the reasons Massey signed Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan opposite Shanaya Kapoor.
“Broken… was the first love story we did together, and now we are back with another. Vikrant once told me that most [filmmakers] cast him in hard-hitting movies like 12th Fail [2023] or negative roles like Sector 36 [2024], but only I see him as a romantic hero,” says Singh, who is readying the film for a July 11 release.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan looks at the love that blossoms between Massey’s musician and Kapoor’s theatre actor. It also marks the latter’s Bollywood debut.
Singh recalls, “The film had its own journey of finding the heroine. We [initially] had Tara Sutaria and Pratibha Ranta for the role, but their dates didn’t work out. We tested Shanaya and she passed with flying colours. We did four months of workshops with her; she also worked with an acting coach. By the time we started shooting, she knew the script by heart.”
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