Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan box office day 2: Vikrant Massey-Shanaya Kapoor's film sees low growth

The romantic drama Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, directed by Santosh Singh and featuring Shanaya Kapoor and Vikrant Massey, continued to face an underwhelming response at the box office. After a slow start on Friday with an estimated collection of Rs 25 lakh net, the film saw minimal improvement on Saturday, adding around Rs 40 lakh to its total. The two-day figure now stands at Rs 65 lakh net.

Considering the theatrical trend so far, the film appears to be headed for a net weekend of just Rs 1 to Rs 1.10 crore. For a release with fresh talent and a familiar face like Massey, who recently found success with 12th Fail and The Sabarmati Report—the numbers are unexpectedly low. Those earlier films managed to draw better initial numbers and displayed stronger Saturday growth.

The limited appeal of the film may be part of the issue. As a romantic drama, it caters to a very specific audience. Even so, industry insiders expected a better opening and more visible jump over the weekend. In this case, neither materialised.

There’s also a timing issue. With Saiyaara releasing next week and targeting the same viewer segment, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is unlikely to stretch its theatrical run meaningfully. As of now, its earnings are not expected to surpass even Rs 1.5 crore net by the end of its run.

Financially, the gap is starker. The print and publicity budget is reportedly between Rs 6–8 crore, while the film’s theatrical share may barely touch Rs 1–1.5 crore net. This shortfall means the film might not even recover marketing expenses through cinema revenue.

Given these figures, some in the trade have noted that a direct-to-digital release might have served the film better. With OTT platforms often reaching more niche audiences without the pressure of theatrical footfall, this romantic drama may have found its footing elsewhere.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is currently screening in theatres across India, but its theatrical journey appears to be short-lived unless something unexpected shifts in the coming days.