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.
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.
Ram Charan’s Peddi opens to mixed reviews despite strong performances and music
Peddi has received mixed reviews, with Ram Charan’s performance and AR Rahman’s music earning praise while criticism has focused on the film’s screenplay and writing.
Ram Charan’s much-awaited Telugu sports drama Peddi hit theatres on June 4 and has generated significant discussion among critics and audiences. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film marks Charan’s return to the big screen in a rural sports-based story that combines action, emotion and village politics.
Early reviews have highlighted Ram Charan’s committed performance as one of the film’s strongest assets. Critics have particularly appreciated his transformation and screen presence, with many describing the role as one that allows the actor to showcase both emotional depth and mass appeal.
Another aspect receiving widespread praise is the music and background score composed by A. R. Rahman. Several reviewers and audience members have pointed to the soundtrack and score as key elements that elevate important moments throughout the film.
However, reviews have been more divided on the film’s writing. Critics have argued that while the film contains emotionally effective sequences and well-mounted sports moments, the screenplay often follows familiar genre conventions and lacks the consistency needed to fully realise its ambitions.
The film also stars Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Boman Irani in important roles. Audience reactions on social media have generally described the film as an entertaining watch despite its shortcomings, with praise directed at the performances and technical departments.
Despite the mixed critical response, Peddi has opened strongly at the box office, supported by robust advance bookings and enthusiastic fan celebrations across Telugu-speaking regions.
Dhurandhar raw and uncut version set for digital premiere on two major streaming platforms
In a major surprise for action film fans, the raw and uncut version of Dhurandhar is launching tomorrow across both Netflix India and JioHotstar with uncensored footage and multiple audio tracks.
Indian cinema enthusiasts are in for an unexpected treat as the highly anticipated unfiltered version of the blockbuster film Dhurandhar is officially heading to digital platforms. In a surprising double-platform strategy, the raw and uncut cut of the action-packed movie is scheduled to begin streaming on both Netflix India and JioHotstar.
The sudden announcement from the streaming platforms has sparked significant buzz across social media. While much of the recent digital speculation has centered around the streaming schedule for the sequel, media updates have confirmed that this specific raw release applies to the franchise’s first installment. Starting tomorrow, viewers in India will be able to watch the unfiltered version of the movie in multiple regional languages, including Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, complete with intense gore sequences and raw dialogues that were previously trimmed.
Dual-platform digital release brings uncensored action
The announcement has cleared up initial confusion among fans who were anticipating updates regarding the franchise. While international audiences have seen varied streaming distributions for the franchise, viewers within India will uniquely get access to the first film’s “undekha” (unseen) cut simultaneously on two separate streaming applications.
The standard digital premiere for the second installment, Dhurandhar 2, remains locked for June 4, 2026, on JioHotstar and will mirror the standard censored cut that was showcased during its theatrical run. However, for fans seeking an uncompromising, high-octane cinematic experience, the original film’s extended, raw edition arrives online tomorrow on both competing streaming services.
The upcoming Bollywood film Dhurandhar 2 has reportedly secured a significant OTT deal, underlining its strong market buzz ahead of release. According to media reports, the film’s digital streaming rights have been acquired by JioHotstar for approximately Rs 155 crore.
The makers are expected to follow a strategic release plan, with the film likely to premiere on the platform after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. JioHotstar also holds digital streaming rights for the tournament, and the post-IPL window is seen as an effort to retain audience engagement.
Reports suggest that the film could arrive on OTT in late May or early June 2026, depending on its theatrical release schedule and run. However, there is no official confirmation yet regarding the exact streaming date.
Industry observers note that the reported deal highlights the growing demand for big-ticket Hindi films among streaming platforms, especially those expected to draw strong audience interest.
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