Entertainment

Aap Jaisa Koi review: R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh shine in a bold yet talkative rom-com

Netflix’s Aap Jaisa Koi is a well-intentioned feminist rom-com that stars R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Though conceptually strong, the film falters due to its didactic execution.

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2025

[email protected]

Aap Jaisa Koi, streaming on Netflix and produced under Dharmatic Entertainment, attempts to dive deep into the nuanced themes of female sexual desire, autonomy, and modern relationships. Directed by Vivek Soni, the film brings together R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh in a romantic comedy that defies conventional Bollywood norms—but not without its share of narrative excess.

A modern mismatch wrapped in old dilemmas

Set between Jamshedpur and Kolkata, the story introduces us to Shrirenu Tripathi (R Madhavan), a 42-year-old introverted Sanskrit teacher, and Madhu Bose (Fatima Sana Shaikh), a confident 32-year-old French teacher. Despite their contrasting personalities—he’s a reserved virgin, she’s an assertive, sexually liberated woman—their worlds collide in a tea-flavored twist of destiny and shared longing.

While on paper the pairing feels like an unconventional rom-com setup, the film smartly explores themes like mutual respect, emotional equality, and the cultural baggage women carry even in modern India. Madhu’s character is refreshingly bold, representing the voice of today’s independent woman unafraid to assert her identity, ambitions, or desires. Her response to Shrirenu’s patronizing comment—”And why will you decide my limits?”—hits the core of the film’s feminist messaging.

A heavy hand in delivering the right message

The heart of Aap Jaisa Koi is in the right place. Its plea for equal love, freedom of choice for women, and breaking away from gendered expectations is both relevant and necessary. However, much like certain previous titles from the same production house, the film stumbles due to its overly verbose and didactic tone.

The narrative feels cluttered at times, as it tries to tick off multiple themes—patriarchy, consent, political awareness, sexuality—all while keeping up the tempo of a romantic comedy. This occasionally leads to dialogues that sound more like lectures than conversations, which might test the patience of viewers looking for a light-hearted watch.

Performances and cultural throwbacks add charm

What helps Aap Jaisa Koi stay engaging are its performances and cleverly placed cultural references. R Madhavan delivers a sincere portrayal of a man coming to terms with his outdated beliefs, while Fatima Sana Shaikh impresses with her grounded and fearless depiction of a modern woman.

There are plenty of hat-tips—from the film’s title being inspired by Nazia Hassan’s iconic track, to shout-outs to Stree, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s avocados, and even R Madhavan’s real-life Jamshedpur roots. The music by Justin Prabhakaran, especially tracks like Mila Tujhe and Saare Jag Mein, composed with Raj Shekhar’s lyrics, add emotional depth to the screenplay.

Aap Jaisa Koi tries to reinvent the romantic comedy for the contemporary Indian audience with a feminist lens. It asks important questions and offers a genuine attempt to reshape the narrative around love and gender. But in doing so, it sometimes forgets that showing is stronger than telling.

Up Next

Triptii Dimri turns heads with ivory corpcore look at Dhadak 2 trailer launch

Don't Miss

Bumrah stays composed on Dukes ball row as India raise concerns during Lord’s Test

Entertainment

Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, known for Welcome and Hera Pheri, dies at 56

Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, known for his memorable supporting role in Welcome, has died at 56.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 24, 2026

APNLive Desk

Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, who appeared in several Hindi films and was particularly remembered for his role in the 2007 comedy Welcome, has died at the age of 56.

Khan was known for playing supporting characters across Hindi cinema and had worked in films spanning several decades. His role as Balu in Welcome remains among his best-known performances.

Mushtaq Khan’s film career

Mushtaq Khan appeared in a wide range of films during his career. His filmography included Aashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Gopi Kishan, Krantiveer, Raja, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Jodi No. 1 and Hera Pheri.

He also featured in more recent films including Stree 2, Gadar 2, Baby John, Dhoom Dhaam and Jaat. His filmography lists acting work continuing into 2026.

In Welcome, Khan played Balu, a supporting character in the comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and other prominent actors.

Khan’s career also included television work, with his credits spanning a wide range of acting roles over the years.

Mushtaq Khan dies at 56

The actor’s death was reported on September 24, 2026. Reports said Khan had been undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with liver cancer and had been hospitalised for around 15 days. Further details surrounding his death were awaited in the initial reports.

Mushtaq Khan was 56. IMDb lists his date of birth as December 31, 1969.

Entertainment

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh welcome baby girl, their second child

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have welcomed their second child, a baby girl. The couple announced the birth on Instagram.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

APNLive Desk

Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have welcomed their second child, a baby girl. The couple announced the arrival of their daughter on Instagram on Saturday through a post featuring a baby’s footprint.

The newborn is the couple’s second daughter. Deepika and Ranveer became parents for the first time in September 2024, when they welcomed their daughter Dua.

The couple has not announced the name of their newborn daughter in the post.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s last spotting

Just a day before the announcement, Deepika Padukone visited Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple with Ranveer Singh and his parents.

Deepika was seen wearing an orange and purple kurta set, while Ranveer wore a purple kurta with white trousers. The visit came as the couple awaited the arrival of their second child.

Interestingly, the couple had also visited Siddhivinayak Temple in September 2024, shortly before the birth of their first daughter Dua.

Deepika and Ranveer’s family

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh married on November 14, 2018, in Lake Como, Italy. Their wedding featured ceremonies reflecting their Konkani and Sindhi backgrounds.

The couple’s relationship began while working together on Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013. They later got engaged in 2015 and welcomed their first child, Dua, on September 8, 2024.

Entertainment

Drishyam 3 trailer: Ajay Devgn faces triple threat from Tabu, Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj

Drishyam: The Conclusion trailer brings back Ajay Devgn and Tabu, while Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj join the franchise in new roles.

Published

1 month ago

September 9, 2026

APNLive Desk

The trailer of Drishyam: The Conclusion, the third instalment of the Ajay Devgn-led franchise, has been released, bringing Vijay Salgaonkar back for what is billed as the final chapter of the story.

Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay, while Tabu reprises her role as Meera Deshmukh. The latest chapter also introduces Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj in new roles, creating fresh challenges for Vijay and his carefully planned attempts to protect his family.

Ajay Devgn faces new challenges

The trailer continues the story of Vijay Salgaonkar, a family man who has repeatedly relied on his intelligence to protect his family from the law.

This time, Vijay faces Tabu’s Meera Deshmukh along with two new adversaries. Jaideep Ahlawat plays an SP from the Crime Branch, while Prakash Raj appears as a lawyer. The two characters add another layer to the investigation surrounding Vijay and the events of the previous films.

The trailer suggests that Vijay’s earlier strategy may face its toughest test yet as the investigation moves forward and pressure mounts on his family.

Tabu returns as Meera Deshmukh

Tabu is back as Meera Deshmukh, continuing a character that has remained closely connected to Vijay’s story since the earlier films.

Shriya Saran also returns to the franchise, reprising her role from the previous instalments.

Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj join the cast

Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj are among the key additions to the cast of the third film.

Ahlawat plays an SP in the Crime Branch, bringing a new investigating officer into Vijay’s path. Prakash Raj plays a lawyer, adding another significant character to the conflict surrounding the case.

Drishyam The Conclusion release date

Drishyam: The Conclusion is directed by Abhishek Pathak and is backed by Star Studio18 and Panorama Studios.

The film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 2, 2026.

The trailer sets up another battle of wits for Vijay Salgaonkar, with the final outcome of his long-running struggle with the law expected to form the central conflict of the concluding chapter.