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Bollywood’s Upcoming Fresh Jodis Of 2025 (Photo Credit – Instagram/YouTube)

2025 is all about fresh love stories featuring new jodis onscreen in Bollywood. We who grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol, Rani Mukherji-Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor-Hrithik Roshan in Bollywood rom-coms, are getting a fresh new perspective on the romance drama. This year, we have already seen how a fresh duo, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, broke all the records with their latest movie, Saiyaara.

So, it’s just a matter of time before these new upcoming fresh jodis break the mould and ignite the spark. This list includes Siddhant Chaturvedi-Triptii Dimri from Dhadak 2 to Sidharth Malhotra-Janhvi Kapoor from Param Sundari, and more. Scroll ahead to know about their projects and get immersed in their chemistry.

Dhadak 2: Siddhant Chaturvedi-Triptii Dimri

Dhadak 2 is on the verge...

Aap Jaisa Koi Ott Verdict: Top 10 Netflix Original Debuts Of 2024-25! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s latest arrival on Netflix has made a phenomenal debut on the platform, claiming a spot in the top 10 debuts by a Netflix original film in 2024 – 25. The romantic comedy has started a debate around patriarchy and barabar wala pyar!

Trending In 11 Countries!

The film is trending in the top 10 spots on Netflix in 11 countries in its debut week. While it secured the top spot in only two countries – India and Bangladesh, it secured one of the spots in the top 10 in Bahrain, India, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, UAE, & Mauritius.

Aap Jaisa Koi Ott Verdict

As per the data by Netflix from July 7 – 13, 2025, Aap Jaisa Koi garnered a viewership of 3.4 million on Netflix against 6.5 million viewing hours and secured 4th spot in the globally trending list of top 10 non-English films on Netflix,...

Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, the Netflix romcom “Aap Jaisa Koi” channels the energy of yesterday’s leftovers. But, boy, does it present itself in a meticulously designed plate. Fortunately for director Vivek Soni, style does go a long way when it comes to cinema. Style, itself, could very well be substance. It is only in that spirit, one can find joy in this otherwise middling affair. “Aap Jaisa Koi,” starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, has a strong resemblance to “Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” Karan Johar’s bigger and more boisterous blockbuster from two years ago. It is director Vivek Soni’s unique visual language that salvages, nay, elevates, this generic, more middling version of the same film.

Like “Rocky aur Rani,” “Aap Jaisa Koi” balances itself as a romantic escapade amidst a gargantuan clash of the opposites. Shrirenu Tripathi (Madhavan) is a forty-something Sanskrit teacher in Jamshedpur.

Since this is a Karan Johar production, there are bound to be people who deserve love in each other’s company. Shrinenu Tirupathi and Madhu Bose are Ashok Kumar and Madhubala, Sanskrit and French, or maybe Jamshedpur and Kolkata, the two cities that Vivek Soni’s souffle-biryani travels through.

Srinu and Madhu are not as young as Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in Nadaaniyaan (and definitely not that foolish) , though not as old as Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi in Rocky Are Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Shrinenu and Madhu are… one of their kind, not exactly made for each other. It is their determination to find a common ground that makes this the “cute girl, nerdy boy asli romcom”.

The bang-on description comes from the film’s excellent dialogue writers. The conversations sound lived-in and… well, if not a hundred percent real then close . The characters whip up a constant bustle without crowding the canvas.

Netflix has released its latest feature film, “Aap Jaisa Koi,” a romantic drama starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film explores the relationship that develops between two people from vastly different worlds.

The Heart of the Story

The narrative centers on Shrirenu Tripathi (Madhavan), a reserved and traditional Sanskrit teacher from Jamshedpur, and Madhu Bose (Shaikh), a spirited and independent French instructor. Shrirenu, raised in a rigid, patriarchal family, finds his worldview challenged when he falls for Madhu, who believes in speaking her mind and objects to systemic rules placed on women. The film follows the collision of their two contrasting ideologies as they navigate family expectations and their own conditioning. The story moves beyond typical romantic tropes to explore what true compatibility looks like, questioning modern relationships and the search for love rooted in equality, or “barabari wala pyaar”. It also delves into the theme of loneliness in a hyper-connected world.

Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ayesha Raza, and others

Director: Vivek Soni

Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review: R Madhavan & Fatima Sana Shaikh Bring A Film For The Men, By The Men! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

What’s Good: The music!

What’s Bad: The confusion in resolving the story!

Loo Break: Not necessary!

Watch or Not?: Yes

Language: Hindi

Available On: Netflix

Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes

User Rating:

Have you ever written a love letter? At any point in your life? To anyone? Or forget love letter to the beloved, have you ever written a letter to anyone you love? Have you ever tried talking to yourself in moments of solitude? Have your written a diary entry? Or to be specific, a letter to yourself? R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Aap Jaisa Koi is the crux of a lot of these...

To some, the narrative of Aap Jaisa Koi might seem a bit idealistic, exaggerating certain aspects of the story, like the patriarchal nature of the society but I am glad that we are talking about these issues. Directed by Vivek Soni, Aap Jaisa Koi is a heartwarming yet lighthearted drama that believes that a perfect rom-com always starts with a nerdy boy and a cute girl. It talks about dating culture, how the patriarchal mindset plays a key role in Indian society, and how gender roles become the yardstick to judge the character of a person. So let’s find out what happened in the story and if the cute girl and nerdy boy ended up with each other.

Spoiler Alert

How did Shrirenu meet Madhu?

Shrirenu, a 42-year-old Sanskrit teacher staying in Jamshedpur, had almost given up hope that he would ever find somebody to spend his life with.

“Romantic movies used to be the bread and butter of Bollywood, but it has been failing to make good romances of late” is a sentiment that’s spewed by almost everyone nowadays. And while there’s a lot of truth in that statement, I think it’s missing a very key point: romance in real life is as good as dead. Up until the ‘90s, and maybe through the early 2000s, the idea of love presented by the Hindi film industry and what people imagined their life should be like after falling in love were somewhat in sync. But as reality caught on and social media entered the picture to skew an already askew perception of relationships, Bollywood couldn’t keep up. It couldn’t figure out ways to address the ever-increasing sexism, the unrealistic expectations, and the unhealthy dose of “traditionalism” that had permeated something as tender as love,...

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, a heartwarming family drama that celebrates connection, companionship, and the beauty of discovering ‘Barabari Wala Pyaar’ in the most unexpected circumstances.

Set across the distinct worlds of Jamshedpur and Kolkata, the film follows Shrirenu, a man shaped by habit and tradition, as he begins to re-examine long-held beliefs about masculinity, companionship, and emotional expression. In Madhu, a spirited woman who refuses to shrink herself to fit societal moulds, he finds not just a romantic partner, but a mirror to his own conditioning. As the two navigate family expectations, emotional baggage, and the weight of societal conditioning,...

Aap Jaisa Koi Trailer Review Ft. R Madhavan & Fatima Sana Shaikh – A Winner! (Photo Credit –Facebook)

Just when I lost hopes on Bollywood to bring any relevant romantic film, Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment strikes back with a silver lining shining bright! Aap Jaisa Koi, an upcoming romantic drama is all set to arrive on Netflix and the trailer promises a new age romance – redefining the rules and regulations for the act of love and making it barabar once and for all!

Starring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the trailer sets the premise right – A man in his 40s, 42 to be precise, and a woman 10 years younger meet each other for a matrimonial alliance. They fall in love, and everything is nice unless the families or let me be specific – ‘family values’ get involved!

Karan Johar Is Redefining Romance!

While the woman seeks equality in love, the man is...

Aap Jaisa Koi Is Not Your Typical Love Story (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Netflix is bringing an unconventional love story to its viewers this July. Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, is all set to stream from July 11, 2025, offering a fresh take on love, relationships, and companionship across generations.

Old-School Meets Modern: A Love Story Of Equals

Set against a modern yet emotionally rooted backdrop, Aap Jaisa Koi introduces viewers to Shrirenu (played by R. Madhavan), a quiet and traditional Sanskrit teacher, and Madhu (Fatima Sana Shaikh), a lively and independent French instructor. Their paths cross in unexpected ways, leading to a connection that defies societal norms and age-old expectations.

Instead of relying on the usual tropes of romance, the film leans into emotional complexity — portraying love as something that grows through shared vulnerabilities, personal rediscovery, and the courage to unlearn past patterns. It’s a story...

Netflix unveiled three Indian productions at its Apac showcase in Tokyo, with Rajkummar Rao and R. Madhavan leading the slate of upcoming titles set for 2025 release.

The presentation, led by Netflix India original films head Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, highlighted the streaming platform’s growing commitment to diverse Indian storytelling across languages and genres.

“This year is going to be our most diverse year yet,” Sheikh told attendees. “After the wildly loved ‘Pushpa 2,’ ‘Dragon,’ and ‘Chhaava,’ we have an exciting lineup of some of the biggest theatrical films coming to Netflix in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.”

Currently streaming is “Test,” Netflix’s first Tamil-language original film, a sports drama featuring R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth. Sheikh also talked up the imminent release of “Jewel Thief,” described as a “high octane heist-action film” starring Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, scheduled to debut within days of the showcase.

The spotlight then turned to three upcoming productions.

Sanya Malhotra made her Bollywood debut in 2016 with Dangal, playing Babita Phogat alongside Aamir Khan. The film became a massive success, but Malhotra didn’t settle for conventional roles. Over the years, she built a diverse filmography, often portraying strong, independent women in both mainstream and independent films. Her recent performance in Mrs. (2024) further cemented her reputation as one of the most versatile actors of her generation. The film’s success, coupled with the popularity of her previous projects like Kathal (2023) and Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021), has kept her in the spotlight, with all three movies trending on Netflix for weeks.

Beyond acting, Malhotra has also garnered significant attention for her recent collaboration with singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Her appearance in the singer’s latest music video created a buzz on social media, further expanding her fan following. At 33, she has worked with some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including Shah Rukh Khan...

Netflix has unveiled six upcoming features from India as part of a wide-ranging slate for 2025 as the streamer looks to strengthen its foothold in the country.

A total of 25 titles from India were revealed today, comprising films, series, unscripted shows and live events – part of Netflix’s international roll out of plans for the year ahead.

The features include Aap Jaisa Koi, a romantic drama starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh in the story of two opposites who find love. Directed by Vivek Soni, the producers include Karan Johar for Dharmatic Entertainment.

Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins, produced by Siddharth Anand,...

Netflix has unveiled its 2025 content slate targeting India’s expanding streaming market. The company’s latest India lineup, shared Monday in Mumbai, is both sizable and diverse, spanning a plethora of genres across six feature films, 14 series and five unscripted titles — but it’s also more targeted than in recent years (Netflix released as many as 40 original Indian titles in 2021).

“Our 2025 slate promises a rich and varied lineup, from gripping dramas and thrilling heists

to heartwarming rom-coms and adrenaline-pumping action,” says Monika Shergill, Netflix’s VP of content in India. On the movie front, Shergill highlights tentpole projects like Aryan Khan’s grand Bollywood-themed series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood (The Bads of Bollywood), and Siddharth Anand’s high-stakes drama, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, which “bring scale and excitement: to the slate. The regional content chief also highlights the slate’s strong rom-com offering — “Aap Jaisa Koi, The Royals,...

Ananya Pandey made her debut in Student of the Year 2 and she has not stopped! With a amazing performances that showcased her range in 2024 with Call Me Bae and Ctrl, the actress now looks forward to challenging herself with special films in 2025 and on. She talks with Subhash K Jha about her career so far, doing ‘good work’ and more.

Ananya Pandey agrees 2024 was a decisive year for her. “2024 has definitely been a pivotal year for me. I’ve had the chance to work on some incredible projects and grow as an actor. I’m grateful for the opportunities and love I’ve received for all my work this year. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan came last year, Call Me Bae, and Ctrl came out this year, and the love they’ve received has been overwhelming. Each project explores different facets of reality that we all navigate in real life.

Kill Star Lakshya’s Unconventional Debut As A Rugged Man To A Passionate Lover In His Next, Indeed An Inspiration For All! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The 2024 movie Kill was all over the news when it was released, and actor Lakshya gave an exceptional performance. It is hard to believe that it was his debut movie. He is also set to sway his fans with the upcoming love story opposite Ananya Panday in Chand Mera Dil. He is establishing himself in the industry and is already open to all genres. Scroll below for more.

The young actor started his acting career with Warrior High, but he rose to prominence with the show Porus. He appeared as the central character. The actor proved that he is here to win hearts and show the world his acting prowess, truly an ideal contender for the title of debutant of the year. In Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s film,...

Chand Mera Dil: Ananya & Laksh Are Bringing An ‘Ishq-Wala-Love’ Story! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

If love happens somewhere in the most magical way, it has been in the Dharma Productions film. And Karan Johar’s team is back with another intense love story starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, with both of them enjoying their newfound stardom, turning into Gen-z stars with the success of their recent films Ctrl & Kill!

Their upcoming project, directed by Vivek Soni, is titled Chand Mera Dil. The first look posters of this romantic drama are beautiful with the new romantic couple of Dharma Ananya & Lakshya making for a very believable jodi after Ranbir-Deepika and Varun-Alia.

The tagline for the film says, “Pyaar mein thoda pagal hona padta hai,” with the two stars looking deeply and madly in love. We need to remember this line because we know for sure that it is gonna stay once the...

Table of Contents:Introduction to “Chand Mera Dil”The Cast: Ananya Panday and LakshyaDharma Productions’ Return to RomanceKaran Johar’s Excitement for the ProjectBehind the Scenes: Vivek Soni’s DirectionRelease Details and ExpectationsConclusion1. Introduction to “Chand Mera Dil”

Dharma Productions is set to deliver an intense and passionate love story with their upcoming film “Chand Mera Dil”. Starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, this film promises to captivate audiences with its deeply emotional narrative.

2. The Cast: Ananya Panday and Lakshya

Ananya Panday, known for her charm and acting skills, teams up with Lakshya, the rising star, to bring this heartwarming and intense romance to the big screen. Their chemistry promises to be a highlight of the film.

3. Dharma Productions’ Return to Romance

After a series of successful projects, Dharma Productions is returning to its roots with an intense love story. Chand Mera Dil is expected to evoke emotions through its portrayal of passion,...

Indian director-producer Karan Johar wrapped up the conference section of the first Cinevesture International Film Festival with a lively conversation that ranged from working with the right people and Bollywood’s shifting gender politics, to letting slip a few new projects from his Dharma Productions slate.

Johar, who’s having a busy year as a producer with Love Storiyaan on Prime Video and Showtime on Disney+ Hotstar, started the session by talking about how he surrounds himself with people “who know all facets of cinema, not just the mainstream” – even if they’ve been outspoken critics of his work in the past.

He used the example of indie maverick Anurag Kashyap, and producer Somen Mishra, now head of content at Dharma and its Ott division Dharmatic Entertainment, who used to slate him on the popular ‘Passion of Cinema’ blog.

“I think I was their favorite target. But when Rensil D’Silva...

Love Storiyaan

Except for one story in this six-tiered ache cake with no icing, there is nothing unusual about the love stories that are a part of this cuddlesome omnibus.

What makes Love Storiyaan so desirable is its unwavering mood of love conquers all. Aekta and Ullekh in the first story, An Unsuitable Girl, directed by Hardik Mehta are hardly your Romeo and Juliet. She is a 40-plus divorcee with two grownup daughters. He is a patient suitor. And the real story here is between Ullek and Aekta’s younger daughter whom he must win over before marriage happens.

It is this quality of deflected affinity that often takes the seemingly routine relationship to the level close to an epic love story.

In the second story, Love On Air, set in arresting Assam, directed by Vivek Soni (whose voice is the third protagonist from behind the camera) two disc jockeys Rajni and Nick,...

Mumbai, Feb 15 (Ians) Love being in the air, we all having had our share of Valentine’s Day, it is the perfect time to delve deeper into the numerous aspects of love, creatively at that.

And who can be better that Karan Johar with his Dharmatic Productions team giving us a cute collection of stories (‘storiyaan’) suffused with the different flavours of six romantic liaisons from different parts of the country.

Released on Amazon Prime Video, ‘Love Storiyaan’ has endearing tales of unusual love blossoming in small and metropolitan cities, involving ordinary people — well, mostly. Dedicated to everyone who has ever loved, lost and was bold enough to fall in love again, the episodes feature inspired stories from Priya Ramani, Niloufer Venkatraman and Samar Halarnkar’s popular Instagram handle #IndiaLoveProject.

An anthology of six short films, this is as diverse as it can get. The construct is deliberately an attempt...

The trailer of the upcoming streaming series ‘Love Storiyaan’ was unveiled on Thursday, and it showcases a bouquet of six heart-warming love stories that have put up a brave fight against adversities.

The 2 minutes and 19 seconds trailer, opens up with Bollywood producer-director Karan Johar inviting the viewers to explore the love stories of people. The six stories are told through the lens of different directors, Akshay Indikar, Archana Phadke, Collin D’Cunha, Hardik Mehta, Shazia Iqbal, and Vivek Soni.

Each storyteller brings their own personal touch to the story. The trailer goes on to show the real-life couples and give a glimpse into their journey. These diverse narratives of love in its many shades invite the viewers to engage and immerse themselves in their stories.

Director Archana Phadke stated: “As a storyteller, I have always wanted to explore and understand love and I believe it is going to take several films...

Exclusive: Prime Video’s latest Indian original is a docu-series exploring six real-life romances.

Love Storiyaan will launch globally on Valentines Day as a “heart-warming chronicle of real-life love stories.” Six directors — Akshay Indikar, Archana Phadke, Collin D’Cunha, Hardik Mehta, Shazia Iqbal, and Vivek Soni — have filmed the individual episodes.

The show was originally titled India Love Story and was unveiled in April 2022 at a content showcase in Mumbai.

In fact, the series is inspired by India Love Project, a social media community that celebrates love in its various forms that former journalists Priya Ramani, Samar Halarnkar, and Niloufer Venkatraman founded. Coffee with Karan and Showtime maker Dharmatic Entertainment is producing, with Somen Mishra development the concept. Mishra, Dharmatic bosses Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta are exec producers.

Mishra noted that each episode of Love Storiyaan was filmed by a director “who has a personal connection to it, which has...

Film Commentary Time stamp 47.09: In the Silapathikaram story, all of Madurai is said to have burned. Right now, my stomach is burning on behalf of the city that half my relatives call home.Bharathy SingaravelScreengrab/NetflixIndiaAs a Tamil, as someone who writes regularly on cinema, I’m asking Bollywood, on humanitarian grounds at least, to stop making movies about us. The few who know me well enough are aware I can happily digest huge helpings of cringe-content, but Meenakshi Sundareshwar has me struggling to keep my lunch and temper down. It’s only been 9 minutes into the movie when I write these lines. Madurai has seen few worse insults than this hapless film. Also, vazhakkai bajji is made with raw plantains. It is quite popular all over Tamil Nadu, not specific to Madurai. It is a savoury dish. However, the dessert served to the potential groom’s family with...

Meenakshi Sundareshwar(Netflix)

Starring Abhimanyu Dassani, Sanya Malhotra

Directed by Vivek Soni

This could have been a lovely story of a newly-married couple groping its way through the new experience, finding themselves stranded in the journey and then coming back together. Initially Meenakshi Sundareshwar reminded me of Basu Chatterjee’s Piya Ka Ghar where the problem faced by the newlyweds was quite simple: privacy.

This one goes for more. In trying to wind its way through the newly weds’ adjustment problems, the plot ties itself up into knots. Soon we are watching a film about a Tamilian couple from Madurai who are incompatible because… ummm.. she loves Rajinikant (first day first show) and he hates movies(they put him to sleep). Okay, too minor a reason for marital discord? Then try this: he has to move to Bengaluru for a job leaving his new bride behind with his family(no ogres there,...

Film slate includes talent such as Taapsee Pannu and Dhanush, while series include Bombay Begums and second season of Delhi Crime.

Netflix introduced a slate of 40 Indian films, series and documentaries at its “See What’s Next India 2021” event today, presided over by Monika Shergill, vice president of content for Netflix India, and Srishti Behl Arya, director, International Original Film.

The film slate sees Netflix teaming with major Mumbai-based production houses such as Reliance Entertainment, T-Series, Emmay Entertainment, Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP and Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment.

With Dharmatic, Netflix is producing anthology Ajeeb Daastaans and Vivek Soni’s romantic drama Meenakshi Sundareshwar.

Still from Umesh Kulkarni’s Girni

The 35th edition of the Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival will commemorate 100 years of Indian cinema with ‘Namaste India’, a sub – section that will screen 41 Indian shorts.

The sub-section that falls under Panorama section aims to offer “a broader historical and cultural overview of this giant country’s (India) film production.” For this festival has made a varied selection, keeping in mind the cultural and geographical diversity in the country. An inclusive list that includes works from film students to independent film makers on a variety of themes like the city, the country, native and religious communities, prostitution, theatre, tradition, borders, poverty, etc.

Out of these, five shorts will be part of a Retrospective of Umesh Kulkarni, who is also on the International Jury of the festival. His shorts: Darshan, Girni, Three of Us, Gaarud and Vilay will be screened at the festival.