Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor deliver soul-stirring performances in ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’
Love in the Time of Solitude: A New Wave in Bollywood Romance
Bollywood has always thrived on grand love stories, but Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan arrives like a whisper among shouts a soft, aching ballad in a world of chartbusters. Directed by debutant Amrita Bagchi and penned by the elusive Parijat Sen, the film is not just inspired by the works of Ruskin Bond it breathes his literary melancholy into every frame.
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Set in the sleepy, rain-drenched hill town of Mussoorie, the story follows Aryan (Vikrant Massey), a reticent bookshop owner with a complicated past, and Zoya (Shanaya Kapoor), a visiting journalist recovering from personal loss. What begins as a mild exchange of borrowed books and hesitant glances soon evolves into a layered, bittersweet connection that defies both time and closure.
The film’s title Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is not just poetic, but prophetic. Every look shared between the protagonists carries a burden of words unsaid, of emotions simmered too long. There’s beauty in their restraint, and heartbreak in their honesty. Think The Lunchbox meets The Notebook, under a Himalayan drizzle.
Vikrant & Shanaya: A Chemistry Built on Silences
At the heart of this cinematic elegy are performances that don’t scream for attention they silently devastate. Vikrant Massey, always a master of nuance, delivers perhaps his most internalized portrayal yet. Aryan is a man stuck between memories and manuscripts, and Vikrant’s performance makes that in-betweenness palpable in every gaze and pause.
Shanaya Kapoor, in what can easily be called her breakout role, sheds the glam image and surprises with restraint. Zoya’s grief is delicate, worn like a silk scarf never dramatic, but undeniably present. Her moments of quiet contemplation often steal scenes, especially when juxtaposed with Vikrant’s withdrawn energy.
Their chemistry is less about sparks and more about slow-burning embers. There’s a scene where they sit on a bench under a brittle umbrella, not saying a word for five minutes yet the emotional dialogue is deafening. It’s these moments where director Amrita Bagchi proves her mettle, trusting silences more than monologues.
More Ruskin Bond Than Bollywood: Poetry in Motion
From its framing to its soundtrack, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is more literary than cinematic and proudly so. Cinematographer Ravi Varman creates frames that look like stills from forgotten postcards: fog-kissed mountains, dusty bookstores, windowpanes traced with raindrops. Every shot oozes nostalgia.
The background score, composed by Amaal Mallik, is sparse but stunning. The recurring piano motif simple yet haunting becomes the unsaid third character in this love story. And yes, the soundtrack includes the title track, sung by Arijit Singh in a whisper-like timbre, destined to top heartbreak playlists.
But what truly elevates the film is its refusal to resolve. It doesn’t reward love with a kiss or a promise. Instead, it honours it with memory and mood, much like a Ruskin Bond short story. By the time the final scene fades into a foggy morning, you’re left wrecked but willingly so.
Final Thoughts
In an industry obsessed with larger-than-life love, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan dares to be small, quiet, and painfully real. It’s a film that won’t trend for its box office numbers, but will be remembered for those who believe love is not always loud, it’s sometimes just a look across a crowded café or the last page of a forgotten letter.
Whether you watch it for the performances, the poetry, or just for a good cry on a rainy day this one deserves your heart’s attention.
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