Gustaakh Ishq Cast/Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh & Sharib Hashmi
Gustaakh Ishq Director: Vibhu Puri
Gustaakh Ishq Production House: Manish Malhotra & Stage5 Production
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Release Date: 28th November, 2025
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Available On: Theatrical Release
Gustaakh Ishq Released/Available In Languages: Hindi
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Runtime: 2h 8m
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review:
Director Vibhu Puri with co-writer Prasshant Jha deftly creates the charm of an old world where men and women battle not with swords but with words, some of it poetic. It is delightful most of the way as Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rehman alias Babban (Vijay Varma) goes out of Old Delhi in search of poet Aziz (Naseeruddin Shah), retired and keen on keeping his passion private. Publishing Aziz will perhaps revive Rehman’s father’s dying printing press, the son on a mission to get that rare writing and turn it into a book.
It’s a world of bonds and tugs with Babban and the poet’s daughter Minni (Fatima Sana Shaikh), Babban and Aziz who warms up to the young man, even Babban and the general factotum (Sharib Hashmi) who has no real role to play except to announce that meals are ready, come and eat (in chaste Hindi/Urdu of course). Back home, there’s a mother who knows more than she’s told Babban. And there’s a pragmatic brother, unpoetic in bearing and language, eager to sell the press and get on with life.
There are back stories that linger. Of the late Rehman Senior and his once-upon-a-time friendship with Aziz. Of Aziz and the love of his life. Of misunderstandings, past and current.
There is an unhurried feel to it all. Charming to begin with, boring as it chugs along for no reason. There’s a limit to romanticising zakhm, pain, emotional wounds. And where, for instance, was the need for a dull and uneventful three-year separation before the final and inevitable culmination? There’s no real suspense that unravels either. If there was such close friendship eons ago, it was a given that a name like Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rehman would ring a bell. It stuck out right away.
But yes, it’s visually pleasing. The words are a change from the general crassness of cinematic dialogue. And all three prime actors, Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh move neatly in ambience-appropriate Manish Malhotra clothes while they spout the language of a bygone era that perhaps existed only in Muslim socials.
Gustaakh Ishq – Watch Or Not?: It’s all about time. Aziz even runs a shop as a ghadisaaz (watch repairer). If you’ve the time for words and wounds, go visit the world.
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review Score Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (i.e. 2.5/5)
Gustaakh Ishq Official Trailer:
Credits: Stage5 Production
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