Gustakh Ishq: Bollywood produces over a thousand films every year, most of which are love stories. However, only a handful of these films truly capture the box office. Love stories like Saiyyara also captivate young audiences and draw them to theaters. However, there are some storytellers who fill theaters with the fragrance of mature love. We’ll tell you about one such film, whose poetic flair and romantic style won hearts and earned it a top rating on IMDb. Although the film flopped at the box office, it is now ready for release on OTT platforms. We’re talking about the film “Gustakh Ishq,” starring Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh.
The film was a box office flop.
“Gustakh Ishq,” released on November 28, 2025, was directed by Vibhu Puri and starred Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh in the lead roles. The film’s story wasn’t about teenage love, which is prone to boiling over without reason. It was about love that simmers slowly over time, like tea, and its fragrance makes its way into people’s minds. Naseeruddin Shah also played a powerful role. This love story reflects the poetic flair and romantic spirit that once captivated audiences in old films a generation ago. But times have changed, and cinemas don’t have the luxury of witnessing such mature romance. The film received considerable praise upon its release, but it still flopped. It opened with ₹0.5 crore on its first day and flopped badly. According to Secanilk data, the film’s net collection in India was ₹1.68 crore, and worldwide it grossed ₹2 crore.
Top Rating on IMDb
The film “Gustakh Ishq” may have flopped at the box office, but it was well-received by those who saw it. It has a rating of 8.3 out of 10 on IMDb, which is quite impressive. The protagonist of the film is Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman Rizvi, played by Vijay Varma. Nawabuddin aspires to become a poet and finds his calling in a world of dreams. His yearning to fulfill his dreams leads him to a renowned poet named Aziz, played by Naseeruddin Shah. Nawabuddin comes to his favorite poet, Aziz, to hone his poetic skills, and there he meets Mannat Baig, played by Fatima Sana Shaikh. Mannat is the daughter of the famous poet Aziz and falls in love with Nawabuddin. Love blossoms between them, but a misunderstanding separates them. To find out the rest of the story, we’ll have to wait until we see the film.
Film Coming to OTT
After theatrical release, the film is now ready for an OTT release. According to media reports, Gustakh Ishq will release on Jio Hotstar on January 23, 2026, on the 23rd of this month. The film is directed by Vibhu Puri, a renowned writer of love stories. He previously wrote the screenplay for Heeramandi and the dialogues for Guzaarish. He also wrote the dialogues and screenplay for Ranbir Kapoor’s debut film, Saawariya.
