Gustaakh Ishq: Fatima Sana Shaikh Brings Back Purani Dilli–Wala Romance as Minni

If you’ve been craving a warm, slow-brewed love story that feels like chai on a winter evening, Manish Malhotra’s Gustaakh Ishq Kucch Pehle Jaisa might be the film that brings that feeling back. Releasing on 28 November, this Vibhu Puri directorial stars Fatima Sana Shaikh as Minni, a simple, grounded, middle-class girl whose belief in love forms the emotional spine of the entire narrative.

Set against the fading charm of Punjab’s old kothis and the poetic lanes of Purani Dilli, the film carries the fragrance of vintage romance. Think handwritten notes, silences that speak, and love that moves gently instead of rushing.

Minni: The Girl Next Door Who Holds the Film Together

Minni is not written like the loud, larger-than-life heroines we often see. She’s someone we all know: warm, steady, hopeful in a quiet way, and strong without needing to shout about it. Fatima describes her beautifully, saying:

“Minni reminded me of so many girls I’ve known, who are strong, grounded, quietly hopeful. She believes in love, but on her own terms. There’s dignity in her stillness.”

That stillness is exactly what director Vibhu Puri calls the heartbeat of Gustaakh Ishq. He shared that Fatima brings a disarming honesty, turning even silence into meaningful dialogue. Her presence holds the film together, letting the audience fall into the rhythm of old-school love.

A World Built With Shayari, Silence, and Soul

Gustaakh Ishq draws its mood from a gentler era.A time when:

• chai was a conversation

• shayari was a language

• and longing was expressed through pauses

With Naseeruddin Shah playing a soulful shayar and Vijay Varma as a man slowly learning the grammar of love, Minni stands between their worlds with quiet courage. Music by Vishal Bhardwaj and lyrics by Gulzar add that unmistakable old-world fragrance the film promises.

Manish Malhotra’s First Film as Producer

This is also a special moment for Manish Malhotra and Dinesh Malhotra, marking their first film production. In many ways, Gustaakh Ishq blends Manish’s world of design with cinema’s emotional language. It’s a film stitched together with nostalgia, warmth, and sincerity.

Why Gustaakh Ishq Feels Important Today

In a time of swipes, speed, and instant love, a story like this feels refreshing. It reminds us that old-school romance hasn’t disappeared. It just needed the right film to bring it back to the big screen.

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab (FAQs)

1. Gustaakh Ishq kis genre ki film hai, aur kya yeh old-school romance lovers ko pasand aayegi?

Gustaakh Ishq ek pure, slow-paced romance hai jo Purani Dilli aur Punjab ki purani mohabbat wali vibe lekar aati hai. Agar aapko chai, shayari aur thehraav wali love stories pasand hain, yeh film aapko ghar jaisi lagne wali hai.

2. Fatima Sana Shaikh ka Minni ka character itna special kyun hai?

Minni ek relatable, middle-class ladki hai jo quietly hopeful aur emotionally strong hai. Uski simplicity aur stillness poori film ka emotional anchor ban jaati hai. Fatima ne is character ko natural aur heartfelt tarike se play kiya hai.

3. Gustaakh Ishq mein Vijay Varma aur Naseeruddin Shah ka kya role hai?

Vijay Varma film mein ek aise insaan ka role play kar rahe hain jo pyaar ki bhasha seekh raha hai, aur Naseeruddin Shah ek soulful shayar ka character nibhate hain. Minni in dono ke beech ek emotional connector ki tarah ubharti hai.

4. Kya Gustaakh Ishq family audience ke liye theek hai?

Haan, film family-friendly hai, kyunki yeh modern complications se zyada emotions, connection aur old-fashioned mohabbat par focus karti hai. Har age group iski simplicity aur warmth ko enjoy kar sakta hai.

5. Gustaakh Ishq kab release ho rahi hai aur kya yeh theatrical release hogi?

Film 28 November ko theatres mein release ho rahi hai. Cinema lovers ke liye yeh ek cosy, poetic experience hogi jo big screen par aur bhi khoobsurat lagegi.