World Premiere of Gustaakh Ishq Marks a New Era for Manish Malhotra
On Friday, 26 November 2025, Inaugural ambassador of UKICC, Manish Malhotra, hosted a landmark premiere in Mumbai premiered his debut film Gustaakh Ishq in Mumbai, India. The evening also marked the official launch of Mr Malhotra’s production venture, Stage5 Production, a project shaped by years of passion, dedication, and creative exploration.
For decades, Manish Malhotra has defined the aesthetics of Indian cinema, styling iconic characters, shaping trends, and establishing a legacy of artistic excellence. With Gustaakh Ishq, he extends his creative vision into filmmaking, seamlessly integrating his expertise in costume, design, and storytelling. Stage5 Production signifies not only a business milestone but also an expansion of Malhotra’s artistic universe.
A Distinguished Evening
The premiere welcomed leaders from fashion, film, business, and diplomacy. Among the distinguished attendees were Dr. R. Sri Ram, Founder and Chair of UKICC and UK’s His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and the British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, Harjinder Kang and Mrs. Kang, reflecting the growing creative partnership between the UK and India. The evening provided a unique opportunity to witness Malhotra’s transition into film production and showcased the cross-creative opportunities between art-forms of fashion and film – two industries which are prominent in both the UK and India.
“I have such admiration for Manish Malhotra – having now partnered with him this year. His hardwork, creative exploration and dedication towards excellence in everything he puts his name to, is so inspiring. The movie pulled at my heart strings – the location choices, the music, and ofcourse the costume worn by the incredibly well-chosen actors made the storytelling so powerful. I hope that the movie is a blockbuster hit. It was great to be invited to the world-premiere in Mumbai – the home of Bollywood, and to be with fellow Brits Gurinder Chadha, and the Deputy High Commissioner Mr Kang. I am excited to see how we can support creatives from the UK and India across film, and fashion in the coming months,” said Dr Sri Ram.
Strengthening UK–India Creative Collaboration
The UK-India Creative Circle (UKICC) continues to promote cross-border partnerships across film, fashion, music, beauty, and production. The Gustaakh Ishq premiere exemplifies the impact of collaborative creative efforts. Malhotra’s latest achievement demonstrates the potential of cultural exchange and storytelling, reinforcing the strong creative synergy between the UK and India.
Congratulations to Manish Malhotra and the Stage5 Production team on this significant milestone. Gustaakh Ishq represents not only a cinematic debut but also a testament to innovation, artistic vision, and cross-cultural collaboration.
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