Manish Malhotra's 'Gustaakh Ishq': How Vijay Varma-Fatima Sana Shaikh's film is an ode to old-school romance and poetry

“Mera lehja cactus sa khurdura, teri baate raat-rani ki tarah…gham koi dena hai toh de de mujhe, dil mein rakh loonga nishani ki tarah” - a shayri that made everyone go waah - waah when the makers of Gustaakh Ishq - Kucch Pehle Jaisa unveiled its trailer.

Directed by Vibhu Puri and marking first cinematic production of Manish Malhotra under Stage5 Production, _Gustaakh Ishq_ is a love letter in motion, drenched in shayris and poetic calm that makes you pause, listen, and feel.

At times when audiences rarely come back to the magic of shayris and classic poetry, _Gustaakh Ishq_ is uniting everyone under the passion of old-school love where shayris flow like conversation, music reaches the heart and romance - whether ‘puraane zamaane ki mohabbat’ or ‘digital pyaar’ - becomes the film’s ultimate language.

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In today’s time, love stories often come wrapped in reels, digital-age slang and quick edits, but _Gustaakh Ishq_ simply slows down by taking a lyrical route. The film’s dialogues, stolen glances, shayris and the low-lying nostalgic essence simply state that mohabbat abb bhi waisi hai, bass andaaz badal gaya hai.

Gustaakh Ishq bridges the gap between nostalgia and the present, making the right maiden production for Manish Malhotra. The chemistry between the leads feels effortless, more felt than performed. With Vishal Bhardwaj’s enchanting musical score and Gulzar’s deep lyrics, it looks like films are finding their voice again.

Manish Malhotra brings together Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sharib Hashmi under one roof for _Gustaakh Ishq - Kucch Pehle Jaisa_.

Produced alongside his brother Dinesh Malhotra under Stage5 Production, Gustaakh Ishq is directed by Vibhu Puri, and it unfolds as a poignant tale of passion and unspoken desire, set amidst the bylanes of Purani Dilli and the fading kothis of Punjab. The film releases in theatres on 28th November.