Aap Jaisa Koi (film)
| Aap Jaisa Koi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Vivek Soni |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Debojeet Ray |
| Edited by | Prashanth Ramachandran |
| Music by | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 115 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi & partial Bengali |
Aap Jaisa Koi (transl. Someone Like You) is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy drama film directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Karan Johar's Dharmatic Entertainment for Netflix.[2][3] It stars R. Madhavan as Shrirenu Tripathi, a reserved middle-aged Sanskrit professor, and Fatima Sana Shaikh as Madhu Bose, a spirited French instructor.[2][4][5][6]
Premise
[edit]The story follows Shrirenu Tripathi, a middle-aged Sanskrit professor based in Jamshedpur, who develops a relationship with Madhu Bose, a French instructor from Kolkata. The Tripathi family consists of Shrirenu's brother, sister-in-law and niece. The Bose family consists of Madhu's mother, maternal uncle, maternal grandmother and 2 maternal aunts whose husbands are ghar jamais. The lovers have various differences:
- Shrirenu's family is patriarchal whereas Madhu's family is matriarchal.
- Shrirenu is a virgin whereas Madhu is sexually active.
- Shrirenu is reserve whereas Madhu is outspoken.
Their bond is tested by societal expectations and opposition from family members. The narrative explores themes related to compatibility, interpersonal equality, and differing worldviews in romantic relationships.
Cast
[edit]- R. Madhavan as Shrirenu "Shri" Tripathi
- Fatima Sana Shaikh as Madhu Bose
- Manish Chaudhary as Bhanu Tripathi, Shri's conservative elder brother
- Ayesha Raza as Kusum Tripathi, Bhanu's wife, Shri's sister-in-law and mother figure, Nisha's mother, and Joy's love interest
- Namit Das as Deepak, Shri's best friend
- Karan Wahi as Namit Aggarwal, Madhu's ex-boyfriend
- Saheb Chatterjee as Joy Bose, Madhu's maternal uncle
- Ananya Chatterjee as Shona, Madhu's maternal aunt
- Divyam Dubey as Kartik, Shri's student
- Beena Banerjee as Madhu's grandmother and matriarch of the Bose family
- Javed Khan King as Himself
Production
[edit]The film was developed as a Netflix original by Dharmatic Entertainment. The story was conceived by Radhika Anand who also wrote the screenplay, with Jehan Handa coming on board later, and Netflix approached Karan Johar's Dharmatic banner to produce the project.[7] Vivek Soni, who co-wrote and directed Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021) for Netflix, signed on as director. The film is produced by Karan Johar along with Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra under Dharmatic Entertainment. Aap Jaisa Koi is set between Jamshedpur and Kolkata. Principal photography took place in Kolkata and Jamshedpur.[8]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Aap Jaisa Koi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |||||
| Released | 27 June 2025 | ||||
| Recorded | 2024–2025 | ||||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | ||||
| Length | 17:44 | ||||
| Language | Hindi | ||||
| Label | Sony Music India | ||||
| |||||
The music of the film is composed by Rochak Kohli and Justin Prabhakaran while lyrics are written by Gurpreet Saini and Raj Shekhar.[9]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jab Tu Sajan" | Gurpreet Saini | Rochak Kohli | Mohit Chauhan | 4:11 |
| 2. | "Mila Tujhe" | Raj Shekhar | Justin Prabhakaran | Vishal Mishra, Prateeksha Srivastava | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Dhuan Dhuan" | Gurpreet Saini | Rochak Kohli | Sanjith Hegde | 3:09 |
| 4. | "Saare Jag Mein" | Raj Shekhar | Justin Prabhakaran | Abhay Jodhpurkar, Aanandi Joshi, Umesh Joshi, Vijay Dhuri, Siddhant Karawde, Pragati Joshi, Arohi Mhatre Nayak, Aditi Prabhudesai | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Jaadu Wali Chimki" | Raj Shekhar | Justin Prabhakaran | Devender Pal Singh, Vidhya Gopal, Vijay Dhuri | 3:15 |
| Total length: | 17:44 | ||||
Release
[edit]Netflix officially announced the film and its release date in June 2025. The first look poster and trailer were unveiled in late June.[10][11] Aap Jaisa Koi was released on Netflix on 11 July 2025.[12]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 40% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10.[13]
Lachmi Deb Roy Firstpost awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising its treatment of unconventional romance and breaking societal norms. She noted that the film "will make you believe that there is nothing like age‑appropriate love," appreciating its emotional message.[14] However, Roy also criticized the depth of characterization, particularly pointing out that "there is a lack of depth in the characterisation and depiction of Madhu Bose... it definitely could have been better."[14] Trisha Gaur of Koimoi rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a 'zor ka thappad' on the patriarchal mard clan".[15] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave a 2/5 stars, acknowledging its refreshing portrayal of a forty-something hero confronting insecurities with women. However, Gupta critiqued the screenplay for slipping into "staged confrontations-and-resolutions” and retreating into "bland 'safe family space'," which she felt gave the film a "faintly mothballed air".[16]
Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave a 2.5/5, writing that while it starts on an "earnest note", it "soon loses the plot completely".[17] India TV News delivered a critical take with a sharp headline: "tries hard on feminism but fails big time".[18] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India called it "A Romcom That's Watched Too Many Romcoms."[19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi (12)". British Board of Film Classification. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b Poddar, Atreyee (26 June 2025). "R Madhavan embraces age–appropriate romance in new film Aap Jaisa Koi". Indulgexpress. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi movie review: R Madhavan's rom-com with Fatima Sana Shaikh leaves social media 'speechless'". mint.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi Trailer: 'बराबरी वाला प्यार...' लेकर आ रहे R Madhavan और फातिमा सना शेख, पितृसत्ता में उलझ जाएगी मोहब्बत? - aap jaisa koi trailer r madhavan". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Fatima Sana Shaikh On Her Role In Aap Jaisa Koi: 'Was Interesting To Play A Bengali Woman, They Are Strong & Sensual'". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Netflix's 'Aap Jaisa Koi' Movie: R. Madhavan returns to his romantic avatar, opens up on his fitness, 'They have been accusing me of...'". Firstpost. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "R Madhavan reveals he mistakenly called a girl 'pretty young thing' in a speech: 'I didn't mean to objectify'". The Times of India. 25 June 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "'Aap Jaisa Koi': R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh's romance drama gets a release date on Netflix". The Hindu. 17 June 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Jiosaavn. 7 July 2025.
- ^ "'Aap Jaisa Koi' trailer: R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh in a romance of equals". The Hindu. 25 June 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ Gaur, Trisha (25 June 2025). "Aap Jaisa Koi Trailer Review: R Madhavan Tells Fatima Sana Shaikh "Hamara Nahi Ho Paayega" But His 'Mannu Bhaiya' Charm Promises To Win It Again!". Koimoi. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi Trailer Review: फिर लवर बॉय इमेज में नजर आए आर. माधवन, फातिमा सना शेख संग खूब जमी जोड़ी". Jansatta (in Hindi). 25 June 2025. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Netflix's Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review: R. Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh will make you believe that there is nothing like age-appropriate love". Firstpost. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ Gaur, Trisha (11 July 2025). "Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review: R Madhavan & Fatima Sana Shaikh's Film Is A Zor Ka Thappad On 'Patriarchal Mard Clan' - To The Men, By The Men!". Koimoi. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi movie review: R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh's promising film keeps on slipping into bland family space". The Indian Express. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi movie review: R Madhavan-Fatima Sana Shaikh struggle to lift confused film on patriarchy, middle-aged love". HindustanTimes.
- ^ "Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review: R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer tries hard on feminism but fails big time". India TV News. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "'Aap Jaisa Koi' Movie Review: A Romcom That's Watched Too Many Romcoms". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 14 July 2025.