After the much-needed critique of toxic masculinity and the wave of rebel-without-a-cause male leads that dominated Bollywood in 2023-24, the industry hasn’t exactly moved on. But somewhere amidst this sea of alpha heroes and no-personality female love interests, Bollywood is making space for something gentler and far more real. Enter: Shrirenu and Madhu of Aap Jaisa Koi.
We’ve seen listener men before — Aditya (Jab We Met), Rocky (Rocky Aur Rani), Sunny (Dil Dhadakne Do).
We’ve had glimpses of late-life romance — from Cheeni Kum to The Lunchbox.
So what makes Aap Jaisa Koi still feel worth rooting for?
Maybe because it allows love to be what it often is — messy, awkward, hesitant — even on the big screen.
Aap Jaisa Koi: Barabari Wala Pyaar
Directed by Vivek Soni, the trailer introduces us to Shrirenu Tripathi, a 42 year old Sanskrit teacher nervously preparing to meet his potential match: Madhu Bose, a charming and self-assured French instructor. An awkward romance slowly unfolds. Their love isn’t about two people getting along, but about whether love can survive the real pressure points. Mismatched families, societal scripts, and gendered expectations all stand in the way. Will Shrirenu and Madhu realise their barabari wala pyaar or will they surrender?
As R. Madhavan described in an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Aap Jaisa Koi is “A story of an older person, who falls in love for the first time. This girl happens to be much younger than him. How does romance work out in today’s world between these cynical age groups?”
In today’s era of dating apps and situationships, love is often defined by marketing skills and conversational style. To take a step back and do it the old way through conversation, eye contact, and awkward silences comes with its own cost: the delicate balancing act between modern expectations of romance and the outdated demands of a patriarchal society.
Romance Without the Rhetoric
What makes Aap Jaisa Koi feel refreshing is that its leads aren’t trapped in tropes nor are they bending over backwards to subvert them. Shrirenu is a reserved, middle-aged man shaped by habit and tradition. Madhu is a modern young woman whose only radical act is existing unapologetically as herself.
So when Madhu asks, “Why should you decide my limits?” and Shrirenu replies with nothing but a “Huh?”, it lands better than any grand feminist monologue or manufactured clap back. It’s honest. It’s awkward. And it works.
Marking Madhavan’s return to the rom-com space, Aap Jaisa Koi has started streaming from July 11, 2025, on the OTT giant Netflix.
It’s hard not to wonder why a film like this — led by a beloved star — isn’t getting a theatrical release. Is it a purely logistical choice, or does it reflect the industry’s ongoing loyalty to alpha-hero spectacles on the big screen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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