Aap Jaisa Koi (2025) - More Than Just a Rom-Com & Why this one matters ..?

Aap Jaisa Koi (2025)

More Than Just a Rom-Com , & Why this one matters ..?

Patriarchal extremism is the real villain here, not Tinder or wokeness.

Netflix dropped Aap Jaisa Koi recently, and honestly, I went in expecting a feel-good rom-com with the usual drama. What I didn’t expect was a film that would make me think about the everyday nonsense in our society. Yes, the movie is predictable in parts, and yes, it borrows from that familiar social drama formula. But at the same time - it hits home. It’s entertaining, emotional, and it holds up a mirror to the world around us.

The Story & Performances

At the heart of the film are Shrirenu Tripathi (R. Madhavan) and Madhu Bose (Fatima Sana Shaikh). Madhavan is pure gold here, playing a shy Sanskrit teacher with old-school romantic charm brought up infused with that patriarchy mindset. He’s soft-spoken, awkward, and yet so warm.

Fatima, on the other hand, is vibrant, fiery, and confident. She lights up the screen with every scene.

Together, they don’t always have perfect chemistry, but when it clicks, it really clicks. That unpredictability makes their dynamic even more engaging.

The supporting cast is excellent too. Ayesha Raza as Kusum shines, mixing wit and warmth in just the right doses. Namit Das and Manish Chaudhari add strong layers to the story as well.

A Beautifully & technically well made made Film

"The restaurant confrontation scene… so well planned, so well executed."

That’s what stood out for me about the filmmaking. Director Vivek Soni doesn’t rush the story. He gives the characters and their world time to breathe. And when the big scenes hit, they land with weight.

Cinematographer Debojeet Ray deserves praise too. Jamshedpur looks calm and grounded, while Kolkata is buzzing with energy, the contrast fits perfectly with the film’s theme of clashing worlds.

The music by Rochak Kohli and Justin Prabhakaran, with lyrics by Gurpreet Saini and Raj Shekhar, also works beautifully. The songs aren’t just background noise; they carry emotion and nostalgia, adding warmth to the story.

The Patriarchy Punch

If a man loves his wife, people call him ‘nalla’… if a woman joins a dating app, she’s suddenly ‘characterless’.

That line pretty much sums up why Aap Jaisa Koi matters. It doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly truths of how society treats women and even men.

• Women can’t even play cards or talk politics without being shamed.

• Men get mocked for respecting or loving their wives.

• Families decide what “good sanskar” means, and apparently that means women should just cook, clean, and serve.

Watching these things on screen feels raw, because it’s not just fiction. It happens in families, neighborhoods, and communities all around us. Honestly, I see it every day around me.

And that’s why this movie is more than a rom-com. It’s holding up a mirror to all of us.

Where the Story Slips

Of course, not everything works. My biggest issue is with the cheating angle.

The film tries to compare cheating with being on a dating app, almost as if they’re the same thing. But come on they’re not. And the attempt to justify cheating by tying it to the bigger story just doesn’t work.

What could’ve been better? A strong confrontation. Maybe even a divorce followed by a fresh start. That would’ve made the story sharper and more believable. Instead, this part feels weak compared to everything else the film does right.

Why It Still Works

"Good sanskar means doing household chores… how does that even make sense?"

Even with its flaws, Aap Jaisa Koi works because it dares to ask these uncomfortable questions. It mixes humor, romance, and societal critique in a way that keeps you hooked. The performances shine, the visuals look gorgeous, and the music hits just right.

Most importantly, it doesn’t preach. It shows. And sometimes, that’s what makes the message even more powerful.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Aap Jaisa Koi is predictable, flawed, but necessary. It’s not just about love and dating, it’s about questioning the nonsense that society normalizes. From patriarchy to cultural clashes to the burden of “good sanskar,” it throws light on things that we often brush under the carpet.

So no, it’s not a perfect film. But it’s one that matters.

✨ Should You Watch It?

✅ If you like rom-coms with a social twist.

✅ If you’re tired of patriarchy and want cinema to call it out.

✅ If you enjoy Madhavan being his charming self.

❌ If you hate predictable storylines or can’t overlook flaws in logic.

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