Vijay Varma is all set to cast a spell of love with Gustaakh Ishq – Kucch Pehle Jaisa, stepping into the space of old-school love for the very first time. Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sharib Hashmi, the film marks a maiden production of Manish Malhotra under Stage5 Production, bringing back the classic charm of shayris, stolen glances and a lot more! During the recently held trailer launch event, Vijay Varma opened up about the film and shared his reaction upon reading the script.
“When the script came to me, I felt it celebrated the little joys of life – the script was as sweet as honey.” Considering that Vijay Varma has often stepped into intriguing roles and he marks his first romantic outing with Gustaakh Ishq, he adds, “Maine socha ye script mere paas kaise aagayi! But I knew that there was one part of me which is not tapped on. And that is the quality of a producer and director, that they don’t exploit what everybody is doing with the actor, and they are trying to say something new, present something new. And that’s how actors get the opportunity to show their range. And I have been blessed that people have trusted me with different kinds of characters.” “When I read the script, it just spoke to me. There’s a very interesting romance between me and Fatima, but there’s also a different kind of romance between me and Naseeruddin Shah sir – between a teacher and a student. There’s a profound connection,” he mentions.
He dives deep into the film’s essence and shares how the film is opposite from the larger-than-life narratives of today. “The film has romance, softness, realness, and rawness, a unique passion and struggle for life. It’s very heartfelt. I’m excited to show it to the audience. This film has a lot of sweetness to it. Iss film me bahot bada kuch nahi hota hai. I feel hume aadat ho gayi hai bahot bada kuch dekhne ki, something larger than life like something explosive or something murderous,” he says.
Through Gustaakh Ishq, Manish Malhotra begins a new chapter as a producer under Stage5 Production – with a poetic love story that seamlessly blends classic storytelling while embracing the future of Indian cinema. Produced alongside his brother Dinesh Malhotra, Gustaakh Ishq is directed by Vibhu Puri, and it unfolds as a poignant tale of passion and unspoken desire, set amidst the bylanes of Purani Dilli and the fading kothis of Punjab. The film releases in theatres on 28th November.
