Shanaya Kapoor's debut film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, has had a slow start at the box office. The romantic drama, co-starring Vikrant Massey, earned an estimated ₹43 lakh on its second day, bringing its total domestic net collection to ₹78 lakh. This figure indicates a slight increase from its opening day collection of ₹35 lakh.
The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising Kapoor's debut performance and the heartwarming story, while others have noted the implausible screenplay and lack of depth. Anupama Chopra from The Hollywood Reporter India noted that while the film attempts to recreate the magic of old-school romantic films, it struggles with an implausible screenplay. However, she praised Vikrant Massey's acting and noted Shanaya Kapoor's sincere effort, despite the challenging material. A review in The Times of India noted that "Though not a deeply profound love story, Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan has its moments and makes for a warm, one-time watch".
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is directed by Santosh Singh and is reportedly produced on a budget of ₹20 crore. The film is adapted from Ruskin Bond's short story "The Eyes Have It". The plot revolves around Saba (Shanaya Kapoor), an aspiring actress who pretends to be blind as part of her preparation for a role, and Jahaan (Vikrant Massey), a visually impaired musician. They meet on a train journey, leading to a romantic connection built on mistaken perceptions.
The film faces stiff competition from other contemporary releases, including Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth. Additionally, Rajkummar Rao's Maalik has emerged as a strong contender at the box office. Maalik has significantly outperformed Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, earning ₹4.45 crore on its second day, bringing its total to ₹8.2 crore.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan had an overall 15.25% Hindi occupancy on Saturday, July 12, 2025. According to Sacnilk, the film had earned ₹0.19 crore since Saturday morning, bringing its total collection to ₹0.49 crore. FilmiBeat reported that Maalik is 91% ahead of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan on Day 2.
Despite the slow start, some analysts remain optimistic about Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan's potential, citing the positive word-of-mouth and Kapoor's debut performance as potential draws for audiences.
