‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ Review: Madhavan’s virgin hero and Fatima’s charmer make for Netflix’s softest love story

Aap Jaisa Koi (Now streaming on Netflix)

Cast: R. Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ayesha Raza, Namit Das, Manish Chaudhary, Karan Wahi & more

Directed by: Vivek Soni

Written by: Radhika Anand, Jehan Handa

Rating – **** (4/5)

The nerdy boy and cute girl pairing is perhaps the oldest trick in the romantic comedy playbook. But Aap Jaisa Koi, now streaming on Netflix, is well aware of this stereotype and it plays with it knowingly. What starts out feeling like a run-of-the-mill romantic drama quietly transforms into something far more tender, grounded, and refreshing.

At first glance, the film appears to check every box of a generic love story. But do not be fooled. This is not a rom-com by any stretch. In fact, the real beauty of Aap Jaisa Koi lies in its simplicity and in the way it proves that sometimes, the simplest things are all you need to make a lasting impact.

And at times, that’s all you need to have a wholesome experience of watching a movie, which is rarer than ever these days in the absolute shit show that happens not just at the the cinemas but on OTT as well.

The Virgin Sanskrit Teacher and the Charmer with Choice
Aap Jaisa Koi
Fatima & R. Madhavan in ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ (Source: Dharma Productions)
The film follows the story of Shrienu Tripathi, played with delicate restraint by R Madhavan. He is a 42-year-old man or more precisely, a 42-year-old virgin leading the most unassuming life imaginable. A Sanskrit teacher by profession, Shrienu embodies old-school quietude, the kind of man who blends into the background in most stories. His life has been devoid of drama, relationships, or even flirtation.

Enter Madhu Bose, played with infectious charm by Fatima Sana Shaikh. A 32-year-old woman with grace, presence, and a worldliness that turns heads wherever she goes. She is the kind of woman who, as Shrienu repeatedly wonders, could have any man she wants. But she chooses him. Why?

Their first meeting is a classic arranged marriage setup, one of those awkward yet hopeful living-room encounters (only here it happens in a vintage cafe). But what follows is far from predictable. As they connect, their relationship unfolds in unexpected, often moving ways becoming not just a story about love but about dignity, patriarchy, and the deeply ingrained biases that shape romantic expectations. And most importantly, without demonizing any party and just highlighting one’s upbringing.

Love Without Fireworks but With Fairness
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Fatima & R. Madhavan in ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ (Source: Dharma Productions)
At its core, Aap Jaisa Koi is a lesson. A gentle but firm one. It reminds us that love does not need grand gestures or melodrama. It needs understanding. Mutual respect. And most importantly, equality. Because love, true love, is always barabri vala pyaar.

What is truly fascinating about Aap Jaisa Koi is that, for a film so visually drenched in old-world charm, it is very much set in contemporary times. This is not a nostalgic ride back to the 80s or 90s far from it. The protagonists here are firmly rooted in today’s world, dating apps included (and no spoilers, but those apps become a surprisingly pivotal part of the story). And yet, director Vivek Soni, along with his cinematographer, Debojeet Ray paints this modern love story with the strokes of vintage cinema.

Every visual choice from the sepia-soaked lighting to the almost meditative pace of the camera gives the film the aesthetic of a bygone era. The result is a film that looks like a period piece but feels fresh and present. It is not just pretty. It is deliberate, evocative, and quietly radical. The cityscapes of Calcutta and Jamshedpur are shot with such affection that they stop feeling like real locations and start resembling paintings. Whether it is narrow lanes or quiet date spots, everything is soaked in a warmth that is both cinematic and deeply personal.

Take the use of yellow lighting, for instance a soft sepia glow that envelops the characters during moments of emotional upheaval. On paper, it is a fairly standard visual device, but in this film, it is deployed with such elegance that it adds layers to the mood without ever drawing attention to itself.

Of Sidekicks and Siblings
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A scene from Aap Jaisa Koi (Source: Dharma Productions)
The characters too are allowed to evolve organically. Namit Das plays the trope-y comic-relief best friend but he is not just there for the laughs. He is that classic male buddy who gives advice no one should ever follow, yet his presence feels necessary. Because what even is male friendship if not sharing terrible suggestions over chai and pretending to be life coaches?

And then come the families. You might be tempted to draw parallels to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani after all, this too is a story about two individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Madhu Bose is Bengali and Sri Renu Tripathi, presumably Bihari. But Vivek Soni and writer Radhika Anand are careful never to lean into stereotypes. There are no exaggerated accents, no caricatured behaviour. The families are written as people, not plot devices. Their differences do not define the conflict instead, it is the personalities, perspectives, and lived experiences that shape the drama.

So even if you walk in expecting another cross-cultural rom-com, Aap Jaisa Koi rises far above that comparison. It is quieter, more grounded, and infinitely more sincere. It is not trying to be Rocky Aur Rani and that is exactly why it works.

The Economy of Time and the Richness of Feeling
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Fatima & Madhavan in Aap Jaisa Koi (Source: Dharma Productions)
One might assume that a film like Aap Jaisa Koi would unfold at a slower pace or stretch your patience. But its tight runtime, clocking in at just around two hours, actually becomes one of its strongest assets. It ensures that every development feels organic, barring perhaps one slightly predictable turn the classic ex-boyfriend comeback. You see it coming, you know it is going to trigger a shift in the protagonist’s arc, but it is not disruptive. In fact, within the narrative’s scheme, it feels earned and purposeful.

What stands out even more is the handling of the family track. Without giving too much away, the storyline involving Ayesha Raza as Madhavan’s sister-in-law and Manish Chaudhary as his brother is exceptionally well-written. Actress Ayesha Raza deserves more roles like these where she gets to shine despite being a part of a supporting cast. Yes, there is a touch of over-explanation in the dialogues more directness than subtlety at times but in a story like this, that clarity serves a purpose. The emotional intent lands exactly where it needs to, even if the approach is a bit talk-heavy.

Cinema That Whispers and Still Resonates
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Fatima & R. Madhavan in ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ (Source: Dharma Productions)
What Aap Jaisa Koi manages to do and this is no small feat is cut through the noise. In a sea of half-baked theatrical releases and forgettable OTT content, this film feels like a breath of fresh air. It does not try to shout to be heard. Instead, it embraces warmth, nuance, and grounded storytelling. That is what makes it linger.

The Netflix release format also works in its favour. You can pause, revisit moments, soak in the quieter exchanges. And you will likely find yourself doing that not because you missed something, but because you want to go back and re-feel it. The layered dialogue, the emotional cadences, the unspoken undercurrents they grow richer on rewatch. The one thing that we can thank an OTT medium style of viewing for sure.

In the end, Aap Jaisa Koi is a film that does not just entertain. It embraces you. It is the kind of story that leaves you a little more hopeful, a little more full, and a lot more emotionally connected. Like a warm hug, it stays with you long after the credits roll.