At the trailer launch of Gustaakh Ishq, actor Vijay Varma opened up about playing a character that stands in sharp contrast to his recent intense roles. Known for his layered performances in Darlings, Dahaad, and other dark, emotionally complex films, Vijay revealed that Gustaakh Ishq gave him the “sweet pause” he had been craving.
“In this film, nothing grand or explosive happens. It’s about small things - tiny, beautiful moments. We’ve become so used to expecting something big in life, but real life is actually built out of little things,” he said with a smile.
Calling his craft his greatest love, Vijay said:“My work itself is my first love. This film has a lot of sweetness to it. When I read the script, it spoke to me deeply.”
He went on to describe the film’s dual emotional threads — a tender romance with Fatima Sana Shaikh, and another, more profound bond with Naseeruddin Shah.“Between Fatima and me, there’s a very beautiful love story. But there’s another kind of love too between Naseer sir and me. It’s not romantic, but it’s a student–teacher connection that runs very deep. We’ve shared so many conversations about poetry, about passion. There’s a lot of soul in that relationship.”
For an actor who has spent the last few years exploring the darker shades of human emotion, Gustaakh Ishq offered a welcome change. “After Darlings and Dahaad, I’d been doing very intense, sometimes dark roles. I needed some relief a breather. When this script came to me, I thought, ‘This is full of small, delicate moments — sweet like honey.’ I honestly wondered how this script found its way to me,” he laughed.
He credits his diverse career to the filmmakers who’ve trusted him with challenging and varied characters.“I’ve been blessed that people have trusted me with different kinds of roles. If I had stayed trapped in my own mindset, I’d have done the same type of character again and again. But opportunities came my way and with Gustaakh Ishq, I got to explore something new.”
Describing the film’s tone, Vijay called Gustaakh Ishq both raw and real, but filled with warmth. “There’s romance in it, yes but also a kind of rawness, a realness. There’s passion, struggle, and life itself. It’s very heartfelt. I’m excited to show it to the entire world.”