Actress Shanaya Kapoor, who is gearing up for her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, opened up about her experience of playing the character Saba and the emotional depth the role demanded. At the trailer launch of the upcoming film held in Mumbai on July 1, the actress, who stars opposite Vikrant Massey, said, “I think my character Saba is portrayed in a very real, grounded space—she’s flawed, yet beautiful. Love doesn’t come easy; it takes time, and this story reflects that. It’s about real moments, the truth of life, and the journey two people go through. I believe audiences will connect with it deeply because it’s rooted in reality.”
Talking about what inspired her to become an actor, Shanaya added, “I’ve grown up watching those larger-than-life love stories—the grand gestures, the big cinematic moments—and those films inspired me to become an actress. This film has shades of that too, but it’s filled with honesty and heart.”
A large part of the film features Shanaya’s character blindfolded as she interacts with her love interest. When asked whether performing without using her eyes—a key expressive tool for any actor—was a risk, Shanaya responded, “For me as an actor, visual cues are very important in a performance. So in my debut film, when that sense was taken away, I had to ask myself—how will I adapt? That’s where the preparation came in. Both Vikrant and I did multiple rehearsals while blindfolded. We relied on our other senses—touch, smell, sound—and learned to understand the space and each other without sight. That process itself was an experience. We discovered a new kind of connection, and most importantly, we learned to trust each other’s energy.”
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The trailer launch event was attended by the film’s director, Santosh Singh and producers Mansi and Varun Bagla. Shanaya’s family—father Sanjay Kapoor, mother Maheep Kapoor, and brother Jahaan—were present to support her. Her co-star Vikrant Massey also spoke at the event, praising Shanaya for her performance and calling her “an emotionally aware and instinctive actor.”
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is directed by Santosh Singh and produced by Zee Studios and Mini Films. The romantic musical drama is adapted from Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It, and follows the story of a visually impaired musician and a young theatre artist who connect during a shared train journey.
The film releases in theatres on July 11.
