Manish Malhotra has been a big part of the movie world for almost thirty years. He's known for making beautiful clothes that have been worn by many famous people. From elegant silk saris that float in beautiful Swiss mountains to fancy wedding outfits that many brides dream about, he has dressed generations of celebrities. His designs have helped shape how Hindi movies look on screen.
Now, with the movie Gustaakh Ishq, he has taken on a new role – that of a producer.
And the result shows what many in the industry have always thought: Manish's creativity is not just for clothes. He has always been a storyteller, and now he is proving it in a new way.
If you think his clothes are like poetry written in fabric, then Gustaakh Ishq is like poetry written on film.
The movie feels like a natural continuation of his design style – elegant, emotional, and refined – without being shallow. It feels like all his years of helping actors dress have now led him to help shape a story from the beginning. Just like he pays a lot of attention to every detail when creating outfits, he has also paid close attention to every part of this film – the cast, the visuals, the music, and the emotions.
What makes Gustaakh Ishq special is that it's not a loud, attention-seeking project for Manish as a producer.
It's a gentle, heartfelt film that feels real. The story is built on emotions rather than things that grab attention, and that choice feels very intentional. Instead of going for big, flashy scenes, Manish has chosen to focus on small, meaningful moments. The film is sweet and simple, but it's not shallow. It's easy to understand, but it also has depth.
His love for beauty is everywhere in the film.
Every shot looks carefully chosen, but not in a way that feels forced. The set design, color choices, and costumes all work together. The places where the characters live – like homes, streets, cafes, and quiet corners – feel real, not like they were built overnight. This is the same Manish who changed how heroines looked on screen, now focusing on showing the deeper parts of their lives with care and warmth.
What also stands out is how the film balances beautiful visuals with clear emotions.
The movie doesn't hide behind shiny scenes; the feelings are upfront and honest. The romance is sincere, like it's from a bygone era, but it also understands modern relationships and the emotions that come with them. You can tell that Manish respects good storytelling and is happy to support a film that values warmth, grace, and mature feelings over just big flashy scenes.
Another quiet success is the team he has chosen.
Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh give powerful, real performances that show both sensitivity and strength. Naseeruddin Shah brings extra depth and strength to the film with a calm and natural performance. The director, Vibhu Puri, also matches Manish's style – steady, emotionally clear, and calm, never trying too hard to be noticed.
The music also reflects this mix of talent and feeling.
Vishal Bhardwaj’s score and songs fit naturally into the story, while Gulzar's lyrics wrap the film in a gentle, emotional mood. The use of Urdu, the casual poetry, and the way words gently touch the heart instead of shouting them out are truly things to listen to.
Gustaakh Ishq shows that glamour and heart can go together.
This is Manish’s first production, and it’s both shiny and real, something you can wish for and also connect with. It mirrors his own path – a boy who started in the costume department and became one of India’s most famous designers, now expanding to create whole stories, not just beautiful clothes.
With this first film, Manish shows that his legacy will go far beyond just beautiful outfits and timeless dresses.
His imagination now takes over the producer’s table, shaping how scenes are made, how moments are valued, and how stories are formed.
If this is how he starts his journey as a producer, one thing is clear: just like he changed how our stars dress, he is now ready to change the kind of stories we see on screen.
Gustaakh Ishq is not just his first production – it's a promise that the man who turned fabric into poetry is now writing poetry on film.
