Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (2025) – Love Beyond Sight

Some films arrive quietly, without the big marketing circus, and still manage to make you pause. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is one of those. Released on 11 July 2025 in theatres and now streaming on ZEE5, it stars Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor in a romance that tries to look at love from a very different lens. Or maybe I should say — without one.

Directed by Santosh Singh and produced by Mansi Bagla, the movie borrows its soul from Ruskin Bond’s short story “The Eyes Have It.” A story about strangers on a train becomes, in this film, something bigger: a journey about trust, perception, and the little lies we tell ourselves to keep love alive.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Plot Summary

Let me paint the picture. A misty train ride through the Himalayas. Two strangers in a compartment. He’s a blind musician — charming, thoughtful, a little weary. She’s a young theatre artist — curious, guarded, but with sparks of vulnerability.

Their conversation starts casually, the way train conversations often do. But slowly, it deepens. Words replace glances, touch replaces gestures, and a strange kind of intimacy begins to grow.

What makes it work — at least in parts — is that the characters don’t just talk about themselves, they talk around their fears, their ambitions, and what it feels like to be seen, even when you can’t see.

The film does add subplots (career struggles, family conflicts) and while some of them stretch the pacing, the heart of the movie remains in those quiet train moments.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Cast

Vikrant Massey anchors the story. He’s one of those actors who can make even silence feel meaningful. In some scenes, he speaks few words. You feel the deep ache of his lonely soul by the way he tilts his head. It seems he hears a secret sound that the rest of us just cannot hear.

Shanaya Kapoor faced the hardest task in her first big film. She is not perfect, but real heart shines in her acting. Her strongest scenes show her listening, not talking. That truth feels like a fresh breath of air.

The supporting cast — Zain Khan Durrani and Javed Khan King — add texture, though they’re more side notes than full arcs.

Behind the camera, Santosh Singh directs with a painterly eye, while Mansi Bagla expands a short story into a two-hour feature. Sometimes it stretches thin, but it’s ambitious.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Music & Soundtrack

If you remember nothing else about the film, you’ll likely remember the songs. Vishal Mishra brings his signature style — haunting yet hummable.

Nazara – light, breezy, the sound of a journey starting.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (Title Track) – emotional core of the film, beautifully sung, plays in your head long after.

Alvida – the heartbreak number, a little predictable, but it lands because of the raw vocals.

The background score by Joel Joe Crasto deserves credit too. It doesn’t overwhelm; it lingers, almost like another character sitting silently in that train compartment.

Visuals & Locations

One thing’s for sure: Mussoorie looks stunning here. Cinematographer Tanveer Mir captures the hills in soft light — fog creeping over ridges, narrow train tracks cutting through forests, mornings that feel like postcards.

It’s one of those films that makes you want to take a trip just to sit by the window of a slow-moving train. The Mumbai portions? Serviceable, but nothing compared to the magic of the mountains. 

Audiences on OTT have been gentler. On ZEE5, many viewers called it a “sofa-friendly film” — the kind you watch with tea on a Sunday afternoon.

Why Watch on ZEE5?

If you missed it in theatres, ZEE5 is the perfect home for Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. Here’s why:

Exclusive Streaming: Available in 4K with subtitles.

Debut Watch: Shanaya Kapoor’s first role — a curiosity factor alone.

Ruskin Bond Adaptation: Rare to see Bond’s stories on the big screen.

Music in Full Clarity: Vishal Mishra’s tracks sound even better with good headphones.

Flexible Viewing: Download offline or watch across devices.

FAQs on Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan

Q1. What is Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan about?

Ans: It’s a romantic drama about a blind musician and a theatre artist whose bond grows during a train journey through the Himalayas.

Q2. Who stars in the Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan film?

Ans: Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor lead, with Zain Khan Durrani and Javed Khan King in supporting roles.

Q3. When was it releaseed?

Ans: Theatrical release was on 11 July 2025; it’s now streaming on ZEE5.

Q4. Is it based on a book?

Ans: Yes, it’s adapted from Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It.

Q5. How was it received?

Ans: Critics gave mixed reviews, but audiences on OTT have warmed to its music and performances.

Final Note

So, should you watch it? Here’s my take. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan isn’t the kind of movie that shakes you with big twists or flashy spectacle. It’s quieter than that. Sometimes too quiet, sure, but in those silences, it tries to say something about how we see each other — and how we don’t.

Vikrant Massey holds it together, Shanaya Kapoor makes a promising start, and the music does a lot of heavy lifting. It won’t be everyone’s cup of chai, but if you’re looking for a gentle romance with a touch of old-school poetry, it’s worth pressing play on ZEE5.