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Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vivek Soni on Aap Jaisa Koi: ‘Any story told through the personal lens will touch people's heart'
Exuding old-school charm, the upcoming 'Aap Jaisa Koi' is a modern love story in which 'a buttoned-up older man falls for a feisty young woman'. Directed by Vivek Soni, it follows the story of Shrirenu (R Madhavan), a reserved Sanskrit teacher, and Madhu (Fatima Sana Shaikh), a spirited French instructor as they navigate layered family ties. The film produced by Dharmatic Entertainment will premiere on Netflix on July 11. Soni, who has earlier helmed 'Meenakshi Sundareshwar' (2021), featuring Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani, and is set to direct Ananya Panday's 'Chand Mera Dil', talks about directing R Madhavan and his creative process. Excerpts: Tell us about your journey from making social drama 'Bawdi' (2012) to directing a rom-com feature. I made 'Bawdi', a short film, as part of my film direction course from Whistling Woods International. I co-wrote 'Meenakshi Sundareshwar' with my friend Aarsh Vora. We developed it with Dharma and later Netflix came on board. In the case of 'Aap Jaisa Koi', Netflix approached Dharma with the story that's written by Radhika Anand and Jehan Handa. When they shared it with me, it was a 10-page-long story; I loved it. Both my feature films are love stories at heart and speak about different aspects of life. R Madhavan returns as a romantic hero after a gap. How did he come on board? After we finished writing the screenplay, we approached him and he liked the story. He is an actor who balances warmth and nuance in his performance. He also fits into the age bracket of the character — above 40. Have you done the de-aging for him? No. He just shaved his beard. Did you do any workshops for Madhavan and Fatima? We did readings together. I follow the process of meeting the actors individually first, going through the script, scenes and character graph. I did that separately with Maddy Sir and Fatima. Then we sat together and went over the script and details. It might come across as a cliché but the entire 36-day shoot with them was memorable. Your films 'Meenakshi Sundareshwar' and 'Love Storiyaan's Love on Air' (2024) episode, as well as 'Aap Jaisa Koi' are set in different parts of the country. The location is one of the most crucial aspects of the story. Before starting any project, I take into account the kind of landscape I am getting to explore through the story. This determines the costumes, sounds and visuals. With 'Meenakshi Sundareshwar', I explored Tamil Nadu. When I did 'Love Storiyaan', I got a chance to shoot in Meghalaya. For 'Aap Jaisa Koi', I wanted to explore Kolkata. Do you think romance as a genre lacks freshness today? There are good romantic stories told in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. When people go to a theatre, they want a spectacle. It is also about what's being consumed. However, I believe any story that's told through a personal lens is going to touch people's hearts. What are the things on top of your mind while you are writing or developing a project? One thumb rule is to give it a personal touch. For example, if it's the scene of a man proposing to a woman, the act should not come across as generic. Their individuality should reflect in that scene. From growing up in Rajasthan to making films in Mumbai, how did you make that journey? I'm from Rajasthan's Bhilwara. After I finished my schooling there, I lived in Kota to prepare for engineering. From 2004 to 2008, I studied at Hyderabad's ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. After that I moved to Mumbai and worked in advertising. Later, I joined Whistling Woods International to study direction for two years. Are you inspired by any particular filmmakers? Since my childhood I have been a movie-buff. While preparing for this film, I revisited the works of filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray, Rituparno Ghosh, Aki Kaurismäki, Wes Anderson, Billy Wilder, Wong Kar-wai and Paul Thomas Anderson. It was an intuitive decision.
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Aap Jaisa Koi: Madhavan And Fatima Sana Shaikh's Chemistry Shines In Melodious Jab Tu Sajan'
Last Updated: 'Jab Tu Sajan' from Aap Jaisa Koi brings soulful romance with R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh's chemistry set against a monsoon-perfect backdrop. Sometimes, the most profound love doesn't roar with fireworks—it arrives like a quiet monsoon drizzle, soft and soul-stirring. That's the essence of Jab Tu Sajan, the newly released love ballad from the upcoming Netflix film Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Directed by Vivek Soni and produced under the Dharmatic Entertainment banner by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, the film is set to premiere globally on July 11, 2025. Sung by the ever-expressive Mohit Chauhan, with music by Rochak Kohli and lyrics by Gurpreet Saini, Jab Tu Sajan is a poetic ode to quiet companionship and the kind of love that sneaks up on you. It's a song that moves with grace and melancholy, evoking emotions that feel familiar yet freshly vulnerable. With its evocative melody and contemplative lyrics, it perfectly captures the undercurrent of connection between the film's leads—a connection that doesn't demand attention but thrives in silences and subtleties. R. Madhavan, who returns to a romantic lead in this film, spoke with deep affection about the track. 'This is the song I've been most excited about in a long time. It's not a one-time listen—it takes over your soul. I've had the fortune of some timeless tracks, and Jab Tu Sajan is right up there. Mohit's voice brings such sincerity and ease—it lingers long after it ends. There's a quiet magic in the way he captures emotion. This one's close to my heart—it speaks of love in its purest form." Fatima Sana Shaikh echoed that sentiment, saying, 'The moment I heard Jab Tu Sajan, I felt an instant connection. It's one of those songs that stays with you—soft, honest, and deeply real. Just like the relationship in the film, it grows on you slowly and meaningfully. It's amazing to be part of a story where the music carries as much emotion as the characters do." Singer Mohit Chauhan described the experience as both personal and powerful. 'This song isn't about dramatic declarations—it's about the kind of love that unfolds quietly, the kind that feels like it's always been there. There's tenderness in it, a lived-in quality that's rare to find. When I first heard the composition, it struck me how Rochak and Gurpreet had managed to capture something so emotionally still yet so moving. To lend my voice for R Madhavan was indeed very special and I hope this one will resonate with both our fans." Composer Rochak Kohli shared his vision behind the composition, 'With Jab Tu Sajan, we wanted to create something that felt like home, yet leave a mark—something that people would instinctively hum. With Mohit sir's timeless voice and Gurpreet's honest words, I think we found that sweet spot." Lyricist Gurpreet Saini, whose words breathe quiet longing into the song, reflected on the emotional depth of writing it: 'Writing the lyrics for Jab Tu Sajan was a deeply personal experience. I wanted to capture the subtlety of love—the kind that doesn't rush or demand attention but grows quietly and steadily. It's about celebrating those unspoken moments that define true connection." Set against the backdrop of Aap Jaisa Koi, a film that promises to explore themes of rediscovery, second chances, and quiet companionship, Jab Tu Sajan sets the perfect emotional tone. The song doesn't beg for grand romanticism—it invites the listener into a more grounded, emotional space, where love feels lived-in, imperfect, and real. As monsoon clouds gather and the scent of rain fills the air, Jab Tu Sajan is poised to become the season's soundtrack for all those who find magic in the gentle ache of love. And if the song is any indication, Aap Jaisa Koi may just offer a story that feels like a soft, heartfelt conversation between two souls learning to love again. First Published: June 19, 2025, 18:29 IST
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kesari Chapter 2: Akshay Kumar's courtroom drama accidentally exposes Bollywood's handling of sexual misconduct
A few years ago, Karan Johar debuted his Dharmatic Entertainment banner with a Netflix film called Guilty. It remains memorable for two reasons; first, Kiara Advani is terrific in it, and second, it's perhaps the only time that Bollywood has addressed the #MeToo movement head-on. Guilty, which made solid use of the Rashomon effect, ended with a rather on-the-nose title card about Bollywood having turned a blind eye to the accusations made against some of its most prominent figures. Years later, their alleged crimes are essentially forgotten. Many of the accused continue to work freely, while several of those that raised their voices were quietly outcast. Entirely by accident, Johar's recent co-production, Kesari Chapter 2, turns out to be an accurate indictment of why, as a system, the industry failed its most vulnerable members. Directed by the debutant Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari 2 is a particularly problematic example of post-truth cinema. It doesn't embellish, it fabricates; it doesn't deviate, it distorts. Marketed as a fact-based drama set in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre — the film's subtitle is 'The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh' — Kesari 2 invents a court case between the historical figure Sankaran Nair and the British Crown. In the movie, the British sympathiser Nair sues the Crown for genocide after experiencing an awakening. Nothing of the sort happened. In fact, he was the one who got sued. Imagine if Aamir Khan had tried to convince us that a group of Indian villagers actually beat British soldiers in a game of cricket; imagine if SS Rajamouli pretended like two major historical figures really had a dance-off. This is what Kesari 2 does. Also read – Jaat: Bollywood stars are incapable of laughing at themselves; if Himesh Reshammiya can do it, why can't Sunny Deol? At a time when history textbooks in schools are literally being rewritten, a movie like Kesari 2 is deeply irresponsible. Everybody involved needs to introspect: is this really something that they'd show to their children? What makes this enterprise hard to understand is that they could've simply stuck to the facts and achieved the exact same results. Kesari 2 doesn't reframe the British as heroes — although it wastes time in humanising the dastardly General Reginal Dyer — but it chooses to vilify them with lies even though it already had the truth on its side. How strange. It's like the film Major inventing sequences that depict the late Sandeep Unnikrishnan as a bigger hero than he already was. As if his real-life sacrifice wasn't dramatic enough for a movie. For all its failings as a courtroom drama, however, Kesari 2 exposes the farcical manner in which our systems operate. This is entirely accidental, mind you. The movie doesn't intend to do this. In fact, it's oblivious about the irony of professing free speech while actively spreading misinformation. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, organisations set up internal committees to investigate accusations made against men in positions of power. Many of them were given a clean chit and rehired in prominent roles, presumably in exchange of lucrative salaries. Their actions weren't forgotten, but conveniently brushed under the carpet. In Kesari 2, the Crown constitutes a 'Viceroy's Commission' to investigate the allegations made against Dyer. Sankaran Nair is inducted as a token Indian member into this committee. This is when he first witnesses the Crown's inhumanity. It is as if the character had been living under a rock his entire life. He watches silently as Dyer is let off without even a slap on the wrist. It's only when a renegade young lawyer played by Ananya Panday gives him a speech that Sankaran Nair has a change of heart. Coupled with the guilt he feels about letting down a young survivor of the massacre, he makes the decision to 'sue the Crown for genocide'. What follows is a typically melodramatic portrayal of courtroom proceedings. You could be forgiven for suddenly craving a bit of Sunny Deol during these scenes. Deep into the second act, the movie makes an entirely irrelevant detour into actual sexual misconduct territory, and chooses an objectively improper path. The scene begins progressively enough, when Panday's character is asked to cross examine a young British woman accusing an Indian rebel of rape. 'It's called sensitivity,' she says, when the defence asks why she's stepping up at this stage of the trial, having purely been a spectator thus far. And then, she proceeds to systematically disprove the witness' accusations. So much for sensitivity. Kesari 2 projects its only instance of sexual misconduct as a ploy by women against men. This, in effect, becomes its sole statement on the matter. Read more – Ae Watan Mere Watan: Heartbreaking, the worst film you've seen just made some strong political points And because of how the scene is staged, it's the woman who ends up being vilified, even though she was pressured into levelling the accusations by the male officers. This is just one of the many bizarre creative choices that the movie makes. Entire articles could be written on its other basic missteps — Akshay Kumar's Punjabi accent barges into the room a few times, characters frequently use contemporary lingo, and the legal tactics on display are so contrived that even Jolly LLB would avoid them — but let's leave these issues for later. There is gold in those hills, but Kesari 2 is digging in the wrong places. Post Credits Scene is a column in which we dissect new releases every week, with particular focus on context, craft, and characters. Because there's always something to fixate about once the dust has settled. Rohan Naahar is an assistant editor at Indian Express online. He covers pop-culture across formats and mediums. He is a 'Rotten Tomatoes-approved' critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild of India. He previously worked with the Hindustan Times, where he wrote hundreds of film and television reviews, produced videos, and interviewed the biggest names in Indian and international cinema. At the Express, he writes a column titled Post Credits Scene, and has hosted a podcast called Movie Police. You can find him on X at @RohanNaahar, and write to him at He is also on LinkedIn and Instagram. ... Read More
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh's love ballad 'Jab Tu Sajan' is all about manifesting love
Picture Credit: X The makers of the upcoming film "Aap Jaisa Koi" have released the first song, titled 'Jab Tu Sajan.' A soulful love ballad featuring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh sets a romantic tone and explores the theme of manifesting love. Sung by Mohit Chauhan , the track is composed by Rochak Kohli , with lyrics penned by Gurpreet Saini. The track is produced by Rochak Kohli and Sharan Rawat. "Jab Tu Sajan" brings a calming pause to the fast-paced world, offering a gentle reminder of love's quieter moments. The song beautifully captures the essence of manifesting love, discovering a true sense of belonging, and forging deep emotional bonds without the need for extravagant displays. Speaking about the track, Madhavan shared, "This is the song I've been most excited about in a long time. It's not a one-time listen-it takes over your soul. I've had the fortune of some timeless tracks, and Jab Tu Sajan is right up there. Mohit's voice brings such sincerity and ease-it lingers long after it ends. There's a quiet magic in the way he captures emotion. This one's close to my heart-it speaks of love in its purest form. Grateful to Rochak, Mohit, Dharmatic, and Netflix for this timeless gem." Fatima added, "The moment I heard Jab Tu Sajan, I felt an instant connection. It's one of those songs that stays with you-soft, honest, and deeply real. Just like the relationship in the film, it grows on you slowly and meaningfully. It's amazing to be part of a story where the music carries as much emotion as the characters do." Sharing his initial reaction upon hearing the song, Mohit Chauhan said, "This song isn't about dramatic declarations-it's about the kind of love that unfolds quietly, the kind that feels like it's always been there. There's tenderness in it, a lived-in quality that's rare to find. When I first heard the composition, it struck me how Rochak and Gurpreet had managed to capture something so emotionally still yet so moving. To lend my voice for R. Madhavan was indeed very special, and I hope this one will resonate with both our fans." Directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra under Dharmatic Entertainment, "Aap Jaisa Koi" is slated to release on 11th July 2025 on Netflix.
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Aap Jaisa Koi Release Date: When and where to watch R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer romantic drama?
R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh are coming together for the first time in a mature romantic drama, titled Aap Jaisa Koi. The movie, directed by Vivek Soni, has officially locked its release date. Let's take a look at when and where you can watch the upcoming romantic film. Aap Jaisa Koi set to stream on Netflix on July 11 Bankrolled by Karan Johar under his digital production banner, Dharmatic Entertainment, Aap Jaisa Koi is officially set to stream online on the OTT giant Netflix on July 11, 2025. While sharing the release date with a fresh poster, Netflix wrote, "This romcom has been waiting for Aap Jaisa Koi (smiling face with red hearts emoticon). Watch Madhavan and Fatima find love in Aap Jaisa Koi, out 11 July, only on Netflix (with two red hearts emoticon)." Aap Jaisa Koi character details and plot Aap Jaisa Koi follows two mature individuals: Shrinenu, a Sankrit teacher, and Madhu, a French instructor. The film features two polar-opposite personalities who find love in each other and discuss the concept of equality in love in the most unexpected situations. It celebrates tender, soft, and intimate romance, embracing vulnerabilities without losing its charm. The mature romance is set against the backdrop of family and tradition, exploring modern relationships and breaking stereotypical societal rules and regulations. The announcement promo for Aap Jaisa Koi was made in February 2025, during the streaming giant's annual event, TUDUM. In the promo, Fatima and Madhavan were seen together, exuding an adorable chemistry, with Fatima's character saying, "Cute girl, nerdy boy, ban sakti hai ek rom-com." Aap Jaisa Koi marks the second release of Fatima Sana Shaikh in July 2025 after Dino Aap Jaisa Koi marks the reunion of director Vivek Soni and Karan Johar after their previous collaboration on Meenakshi Sundareshwar, which starred Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani. It was well received by the audiences and had a soulful music library. A similar impact is expected from Soni's upcoming directorial. It is another addition to the exciting slate of romantic movies this monsoon, which includes Dino, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Saiyaara, Param Sundari, and Dhadak 2. Interestingly, Fatima will have two releases in a gap of just one week as she plays a crucial part in Anurag Basu's Dino, slated to release on July 4. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
