Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s new film ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is now streaming on Netflix, and early reviews are already pouring in. The film explores themes of unconventional love, age-gap relationships, and emotional conflict. Produced under Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment and directed by Vivek Soni, the film presents a fresh take on romance.
Although essentially a romantic drama, the movie portrays an unusual journey of finding and sustaining love, made possible only through deep emotional honesty. Dating apps serve as a symbolic element, representing the clash between tradition and modernity.
Madhavan plays Sharinu Tripathi, a reserved Sanskrit teacher who suppresses his emotions and views desire with discomfort. At forty, he finds himself falling for Madhu, a French language instructor portrayed by Fatima Sana Shaikh. Madhu represents the new generation—bold, emotionally free, and unafraid to challenge convention. Her presence pushes Sharinu toward self-discovery and emotional liberation.
Rather than simply highlighting generational contrast, the film delves into emotional realities and evolving definitions of freedom. While Sharinu grapples with his inner turmoil, Madhu appears grounded and confident in the modern world.
Their relationship, marked by a significant age difference, navigates challenges like societal judgment, self-doubt, and internal conflict. However, the film shows how both characters grow emotionally, discover themselves, and resist patriarchal norms.
At its heart, Aap Jaisa Koi is about love, not the clichéd “love at first sight,” but a gradual, layered connection between two emotionally complex individuals.
Dating apps are explored in depth: Madhu embraces them as a modern tool, while Sharinu initially resists but ultimately discovers new possibilities through them. This contrast is depicted with sensitivity and nuance.
Most early viewers have praised the film as a must-watch, lauding its mature storytelling and progressive themes. However, a few critics found it to be a less compelling version of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Some felt it lacked emotional depth, but the majority appreciated it as a timely love story that gently challenges societal norms.
