The romantic drama “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan”, starring Shanaya Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, and Zain Khan Durrani, hit theaters on Friday, July 11, 2025. Despite its promising cast and a monsoon-season release, the film had a disappointing start at the box office.

According to early estimates, the film managed to collect only ₹23 lakh on its opening day, signaling a cold response from the audience, even with considerable buzz surrounding Shanaya Kapoor’s Bollywood debut.

Released Amidst Monsoon and Sawan Festivities

July 11 not only marked the release of “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” but also the beginning of the sacred month of Sawan, a time when moviegoers typically look for light-hearted entertainment to accompany the romantic rain-soaked mood.

However, “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” struggled to make its presence felt among the existing crowd of releases like:

• “Sitaare Zameen Par”

• “Maa”

• “Metro In Dino”

• “Jurassic World: After Earth”

Adding to the competition, two more films released on the same day—Rajkummar Rao’s much-anticipated “Malik” and the latest Hollywood superhero saga “Superman: Legacy”—both of which siphoned away a significant portion of the audience’s attention.

Star Cast and Debut Spotlight

Directed by Santosh Singh, “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” is a romantic drama that marked the Bollywood debut of Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor. Paired with the talented Vikrant Massey, known for his strong performances in films like “12th Fail” and “The Sabarmati Report”, and supported by Zain Khan Durrani, the film was expected to bring a refreshing new-age love story to the screen.

But as per industry observers, star power alone couldn’t draw in footfalls, especially when the word of mouth and initial reviews lacked enthusiasm.

Day 1 Box Office Collection: ₹23 Lakhs Only

The opening day collections stand at approximately ₹23 lakh, a figure that’s significantly below expectations, particularly for a film that reportedly carries a budget of ₹50 crore.

 What Does This Mean for the Film?

As per box office norms:

• A film is considered average if it earns 10% of its budget on Day 1.

• A strong opening is one where Day 1 crosses 15–20% of the total budget.

By that measure, “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” should have earned at least ₹5 crore on its opening day to build momentum. The current earnings are less than 5% of the film’s budget, making it an underwhelming start by all standards.

Why the Cold Start?

Several factors contributed to the film’s sluggish opening:

1. Cluttered Release Window

Releasing alongside Rajkummar Rao’s “Malik” and the globally anticipated “Superman: Legacy”, the film struggled to secure showtimes and screens in multiplexes.

2. Lack of Pre-Release Hype

Unlike other major releases, “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” had low-key promotions. Despite featuring a star kid, the buzz among audiences and on social media remained lukewarm.

3. Mixed Audience Reception

Early viewers found the film slow-paced, and although performances were decent, the narrative failed to strike an emotional chord, especially in comparison to Vikrant Massey’s previous critically-acclaimed outings.

Vikrant Massey’s Box Office Pull — Not Enough This Time

After back-to-back successes like “12th Fail” and “The Sabarmati Report”, actor Vikrant Massey has earned a reputation for delivering meaningful cinema with depth. However, even his positive image couldn’t rescue “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” from a tepid start.

The film, a romantic drama, tried to balance youthful emotions with poetic storytelling, but the box office numbers reveal that audiences may be leaning towards action-packed or high-concept stories over slow romance in 2025.

Weekend Outlook: Can the Film Bounce Back?

The upcoming Saturday and Sunday will be critical for the film’s box office fate. A significant jump in footfalls could salvage its opening weekend, but that depends on:

• Word of mouth

• Social media buzz

• Multiplex occupancy

• Discounted weekend ticket prices

Industry trade analysts are not very hopeful unless the film manages to surprise with strong weekend growth.

What the Film Needs Now: Word-of-Mouth Magic

For films with a limited opening, strong organic buzz can change the game. Take, for instance, Vikrant Massey’s 12th Fail, which grew with each passing day thanks to emotional connection and storytelling.

For “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan,” positive word-of-mouth is now its only hope for recovery. However, with the next weekend bringing even more new releases, the window for recovery is narrow.

Box Office Summary: Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (Day 1)

• Release Date: 11 July 2025

• Genre: Romantic Drama

• Language: Hindi

• Cast: Shanaya Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, Zain Khan Durrani

• Director: Santosh Singh

• Budget: ₹50 crore (approx.)

• Day 1 Collection: ₹23 lakh (approx.)

• Occupancy: Low (15–20% in major cities)

• Competition: Malik (Hindi), Superman: Legacy (English)

“Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” has opened on a disappointing note, both in terms of earnings and audience engagement. While Shanaya Kapoor’s debut was one of the film’s selling points, her performance and the film’s narrative will need to resonate much more strongly if it hopes to stay afloat in a crowded market.

All eyes are now on the weekend box office performance. Stay tuned with KKNLive.com for daily box office updates, reviews, and film insights.