On November 28, two films featuring “ishq” or “ishk” in their titles—Tere Ishk Mein and Gustaakh Ishq—were released. Marking producer Manish Malhotra’s first theatrical venture, Gustaakh Ishq has drawn attention for its charming trailer, feel-good vibe, and talented lead cast. Bollywood Hungama takes an exclusive look at the film’s CBFC cut list.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted Gustaakh Ishq a U/A 13+ certificate but requested several changes. The Examining Committee instructed the filmmakers to replace the word “Harami” with “Kameena” and “Kameeni,” and to substitute “rascal” with “scoundrel” in the subtitles. Additionally, the term “sex” was replaced with “aiyaashi” and “the art of lovemaking,” with subtitle adjustments made accordingly. Fortunately, no visual cuts were required, as the CBFC deemed the film a clean family entertainer free from explicit sex or violence.
Following these modifications, Gustaakh Ishq received its censor certificate on November 11. The film’s runtime is listed as 128 minutes and 30 seconds, or 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 30 seconds. The film stars Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sharib Hashmi, and is directed by Vibhu Puri, known for Hawaizaada (2015). It had a successful India premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on November 24.
At the trailer launch earlier this month, Fatima Sana Shaikh reflected on the changing nature of love, saying, “Earlier, people thought a lot before declaring their love. They carefully chose paper for love letters, added flowers or perfume—a tactile experience. Now, people send memes and smileys. I long for slow, passionate, deep love.
The kind with laughter and tears. That’s the kind of love I like!”Vijay Varma added, “Today, everything gets a label. If your partner is silent, it’s called ghosting! If someone says something, they’re labeled toxic. Instead of understanding, we quickly tag and move on. Earlier, there was joy in silence and waiting. There was joy in both meeting and not meeting. That’s what’s missing now.”
