Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Review: Vikrant Massey Shines, Shanaya Kapoor's Debut Faces Scrutiny

Jul, 12 2025

A Reality Check for Romantic Drama: Exploring 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan'

Bollywood loves a moody train romance, and ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’ steps right onto that platform. Adapted from Ruskin Bond’s brief but charming story 'The Eyes Have It,' this film reimagines the setting with a far more ambitious, and sometimes wobbly, romantic plot. Directed by Santosh Singh and produced by Mansi Bagla, it introduces Shanaya Kapoor in her first lead role, starring opposite the ever-reliable Vikrant Massey.

The story follows Saba Shergill (Shanaya Kapoor), a theater actress prepping for a challenging role as a blind woman, who wears a blindfold for two weeks. Along her journey by train to Mussoorie, she encounters Jahaan Bakshi (Vikrant Massey), a musician who is actually blind. A tangled web of half-truths and assumptions forms between them—neither aware of the other’s real condition. It’s the kind of premise that asks the audience to suspend their disbelief, but the script pushes credulity a bit too far.

Performances, Plot Twists, and the Power of Music

Vikrant Massey genuinely tries to ground the film with his nuanced performance as Jahaan. He nails the gentle humor and understated pain his character needs. Shanaya Kapoor, on the other hand, faces the common curse of debuts: enthusiasm collides with the weight of expectation. Critics agree her performance feels a little too safe—earnest, but rarely striking an emotional chord. It’s not disastrous, but it doesn’t leave a mark either.

The screenplay, stretched from Bond’s slim short story into a two-hour journey, loses some of the original’s quiet intimacy. Instead, we get dramatic confrontations and formulaic lines—like the recurring 'Pyaar andha hota hai'—that sound more like old-school melodrama than fresh romance. The film’s efforts to create authentic tension between the two leads often backfire, coming across as forced or even a bit outdated.

Still, it’s not all disappointment. The visuals transport you—sweeping shots of Himalayan landscapes give the romance some credit, capturing an India rarely seen outside travel ads. Vishal Mishra’s music, especially the lingering title track, gives real heart to scenes that would otherwise fall flat. For those who love soundtracks, this is the kind of album that might outlast the film’s stint in theaters.

So does the film manage to spark any real chemistry between its leads? Not so much. Moments that should sizzle end up lukewarm, and attempts at emotional heft often stumble over clunky dialogue. While Vikrant Massey once again proves why he’s one of Bollywood’s most interesting actors right now, ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’ mostly leaves viewers wishing the rest of the film matched his energy.