As Shanaya Kapoor's Bollywood debut film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, hits theaters today, July 11, 2025, her mother, Maheep Kapoor, is showering her with love and support. Maheep took to social media to share nostalgic childhood photos of Shanaya, expressing her immense pride and excitement for her daughter's big day.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan marks a significant milestone for Shanaya, who is the daughter of Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor. The romantic drama, directed by Santosh Singh, also stars Vikrant Massey in the lead role. The film is adapted from Ruskin Bond's short story, "The Eyes Have It," and promises to be an emotional and touching love story between two strangers who meet on a train journey. In the film, Vikrant Massey plays a visually impaired musician named Jahaan, while Shanaya Kapoor portrays Saba Shergill, a theatre artist.
Ahead of the film's release, a special screening was held on July 9th, which was attended by Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, along with their son Jahaan. The family showed their support for Shanaya as she embarks on her cinematic journey. Maheep Kapoor chose a chic dark brown belted dress for the screening, while Sanjay Kapoor and his son Jahaan also attended in stylish outfits.
The release of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan has been highly anticipated, with many expressing their support for Shanaya. Karan Johar, a close friend of the family, penned a heartfelt note on social media, praising Shanaya's hard work and dedication. He called her an "exceptionally hard-working girl" who has "poured her heart and soul" into her debut feature. Ananya Panday, Shanaya's close friend, also showed her support by cheering for Shanaya's upcoming film on Instagram.
The trailer for Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan was released earlier this month, and it has already generated positive buzz. While some found the chemistry between Shanaya and Vikrant unappealing, Shanaya's diction, dialogue delivery, and acting chops seem promising. Some social media users have even lauded Shanaya Kapoor ahead of her debut, claiming that she is better, acting-wise, than other nepo-kids.
Sanjay Kapoor was visibly emotional at the trailer launch of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. Fighting back tears, he shared how nervous and excited he was for his daughter's debut.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan faces competition at the box office from Rajkummar Rao's Maalik. However, early reviews of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan are calling Shanaya Kapoor's debut "impressive", and Vikrant Massey's performance is being hailed as "heartfelt and real". The film is directed by Santosh Singh and produced by Mansi Bagla, Varun Bagla, and Vipin Agnihotri under Zee Studios and Mini Films.
In addition to Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Shanaya will also feature in the upcoming multilingual film Vrushabha, opposite Mohanlal, which is set for release on October 16, 2025. She also has Tu Yaa Main alongside Adarsh Gourav in the pipeline.
