Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh recently attended the IFP Season 15 in Mumbai, where she shared insights about her collaboration with the legendary Naseeruddin Shah in her newly released film, ‘Gustaakh Ishq’.
Engaging Discussion on Romance
During a conversation themed ‘Bringing Back Old-School Romance,’ Fatima and her co-star Vijay Varma opened up about the complexities of love, highlighting flaws, imperfections, and conflicts in relationships.
Fatima referred to Naseeruddin Shah as “inherently a teacher.” She reminisced about a poignant moment when she felt a mix of fear and admiration working alongside him. “I was actually very worried he would judge me. There was this one scene where I had to cry, and he did something really small, but it changed the whole moment. He placed my hand on his pulse so I could feel the heartbeat, basically telling me to be in the moment. What really empowered me was Naseer Sir saying, ‘It’s okay. Feel it. You don’t have to hit those beats perfectly.’”
Naseeruddin Shah’s Impact on Set
When asked how Naseeruddin Shah’s aura influenced the atmosphere on set, Vijay remarked, “Have you heard him? It sounds like God is talking to you directly. He has got that baritone, that voice that comes from somewhere else. It sounds like the voice of the universe.”
He compared Naseer’s voice to that of Hollywood’s Morgan Freeman: “Like Morgan Freeman is the voice of God in Hollywood, we have Naseeruddin Shah as the voice of God. His command over languages—Hindi, Urdu, English, even Punjabi and Parsi—is remarkable. He is an institution.”
Vijay shared his personal experiences, stating, “Just being around him, looking at him working, looking at him being, is an experience. I have had two profound experiences: one was with Mr. Bachchan during ‘Pink,’ and one was with Naseer Sir. It’s amazing to just look at them be.”
Modern Love Habits
When discussing modern love habits, Fatima expressed her fondness for video calls, particularly in long-distance relationships. “Those early morning voice notes or video calls are so cute,” she said.
In response to what his character in the movie understands about love better than he does, Vijay reflected, “I think my character really has failed visibly in love in the film. So I don’t think he knows better than me. I know better about love than my character in the film.”
About the Film
‘Gustaakh Ishq’ features Fatima Sana Shaikh, Vijay Varma, and Naseeruddin Shah and is produced by renowned designer Manish Malhotra, marking his debut in production. Released on November 28, the film has been receiving positive responses from both fans and critics alike.









