Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, the much-anticipated debut vehicle for Shanaya Kapoor, has finally arrived. And without diving straight into the technicalities of the script, music, or narrative structure, let’s get the first thing out of the way: Shanaya has done well. Her effort is visible in every frame, and it’s safe to say she cries better than half of the current lot trying to pull off emotional breakdowns in films. While debut performances often get a sympathetic cushion, hers doesn’t need one; her sincerity is hard to miss.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is the story of two adults, Saba (Shanaya) and Zahan (Vikrant Massey), who meet on a train journey. More than a coincidence, it was their destiny. The movie marks Santosh Singh’s directorial debut in films, as he returns to the romantic genre after the success of his series Broken But Beautiful. It also reunites him with Vikrant Massey after nearly seven years.
Zahan is a blind man, while Saba has blindfolded herself to prepare for an audition. The two are heading to Mussoorie, and Saba’s manager has left her alone. Now, unaware of Zahan’s condition, Saba assumes he will help her out because she’s alone. Amazed by the idea that, for once, someone will not sympathise with him, Zahan decides to play along without revealing his blindness. What follows is a familiar tale: hero and heroine fall in love, one leaves, years later they meet again, and then comes the forever after.
This interesting premise sets the stage for what could have been a nuanced, layered love story. Instead, what unfolds is a more formulaic Bollywood narrative- boy meets girl, they fall in love, circumstances tear them apart, they reunite years later, and the story ends with the promise of forever.
Shanaya Kapoor, the debutant actress, and her character share one similarity: both are delicately, passionately, and wholeheartedly in love with their work, and it shows in the film. Unlike many, Shanaya’s debut didn’t feel like a favour done to her. She seems to have genuinely worked hard, and her performance, though far from perfect, is not half-hearted.
