The final week of November 2025 presented Bollywood audiences with two distinct romantic tales, but their journeys at the box office have been dramatically different. While 'Tere Ishq Mein' has emerged as a major commercial success, 'Gustaakh Ishq' is facing a tough battle for audience attention.
A Tale of Two Box Office Performances
The numbers reveal a clear divide. ‘Tere Ishq Mein,’ starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, has amassed an impressive total of Rs 60.25 crores net in India after its first four days. In sharp contrast, ‘Gustaakh Ishq,’ featuring Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh, has managed to collect approximately Rs 1.37 crore net in the same period.
Released on November 28, 2025, 'Gustaakh Ishq' opened to modest numbers. It earned Rs 50 lakhs on its first day (Friday), followed by Rs 45 lakhs on Saturday and Rs 35 lakhs on Sunday. However, the film recorded its lowest single-day collection on Monday, day 4, with early estimates from Sacnilk reporting only Rs 7 lakhs from an overall occupancy of 5.8%. The film's gross collection in India stands at Rs 1.55 crore across 2,401 shows.
Monday Dip Hits Both Films
The post-weekend Monday was challenging for both releases, though on vastly different scales. 'Tere Ishq Mein' also experienced a significant drop, seeing a decline of around 50% from its weekend numbers. Despite this dip, it still added a substantial Rs 8.25 crores net to its total on Monday alone.
This highlights the intense competition and the struggle for screen space and audience share, where a star-driven, high-energy narrative like 'Tere Ishq Mein' has clearly overshadowed the more nuanced, poetry-filled 'Gustaakh Ishq'.
Critical Reception and Thematic Divide
The two films offer contrasting flavors of love. 'Gustaakh Ishq,' produced by designer Manish Malhotra in his debut production, is noted for its old-world charm, focusing on romance, poetry, and nostalgia. Reviews suggest it is a gentle film that "earns quiet admiration rather than loud applause" and leaves a restrained aftertaste, with audiences potentially remembering individual moments more than the whole narrative.
On the other hand, 'Tere Ishq Mein' explores a more intense and destructive side of heartbreak. This thematic difference, coupled with the star power of its leads, appears to have resonated more strongly with the paying public, translating directly into box office supremacy.
The current scenario underscores the unpredictable nature of film reception, where similar release timelines and genres do not guarantee similar commercial outcomes. All eyes will now be on whether 'Gustaakh Ishq' can find steadier footing in the coming days or if the gap between the two love stories will continue to widen.
