 "Netflix's 'Aap Jaisa Koi' Movie: R. Madhavan returns to his romantic avatar, opens up on his fitness, 'They have been accusing me of...'")
What happens when a quiet 42-year-old man unlocks a part of himself he never knew existed — and begins to rewrite the rules of his own life? Netflix has dropped the trailer for Aap Jaisa Koi (loosely translated as “Someone Like You”), starring R. Madhavan as Shrirenu Tripathi and Fatima Sana Shaikh as Madhu Bose, bringing audiences a heartwarming family drama that celebrates connection, companionship, and the beauty of discovering ‘Barabari Wala Pyaar’ in the most unexpected circumstances.
At the trailer launch of the film, when Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy asked, how he is aging backwards, Madhavan said, “They have all been accusing me of doing de-aging. But I don’t think we have the budget for that. When I went to train for Salakkadu, I went to all these dietitians and a lot of people who were telling me how to lose weight, how to get fit, and have this diet, eat at this time and everything. But I really couldn’t find somebody I resonated with,” revealed the actor.
Madhavan added, “Then I met an old timer, like a really old guy you see in the akhada. Not a typical sophisticated guy or a gym trainer. And I said that I really want to look like a boxer. I want to lose weight in the right place so please tell me what can I do.”
“He said input should be equal to your output. Khana Baand Karo Patla Ho Jayoge. That’s all. So I think, from that day onwards, I started eating only when I’m hungry. I know I don’t eat on time. I also eat when I’m hungry, so that works for me.”
On his latest and last projects
I don’t think anybody could have designed the releases and the kind of projects that I got. But I ended up doing only four projects in fourteen years in terms of movies. So my wife said enough. Get out. Make some money. So I started accepting. But I had the good fortune of working with some very new directors. And they’re bringing a completely different fresh perspective, to the storytelling. And I’m finding that very exciting and challenging.
More about the film
Marking Madhavan’s much-awaited return to the romance genre, Aap Jaisa Koi pairs him with Fatima Sana Shaikh in a story that defines what inner liberation and “barabari wala pyaar” (equal love) truly mean. Directed by Vivek Soni (Meenakshi Sundareshwar) and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, the film is brought to life by a powerhouse ensemble cast including Ayesha Raza, Manish Chaudhari and Namit Das, each adding nuance to this honest, heartfelt exploration of family, identity, patriarchy, and the emotional truths we often hide — even from ourselves.
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.