R Madhavan’s Return to Romance

After delivering a compelling performance in Kesi Chapter 2: The Untold Story Of Jallianwala Bagh, R Madhavan is gearing up to grace the silver screen once again in Karan Johar’s upcoming romantic drama Aap Jaisa Koi. This film marks Madhavan’s second collaboration with the renowned filmmaker and has already generated buzz with its teaser, especially as it sees him return to a genre he hasn’t explored in quite some time: romance.

Unconventional Love Story

The film, featuring Fatima Sana Shaikh, centers around an unconventional love story between a Sanskrit professor and a French professor. What sets it apart is its fresh perspective on age-appropriate love—an aspect that Madhavan believes is crucial to the film’s narrative.

Honest Casting Choices

In a recent interview with News18, the Rocketry actor discussed his motivation for joining the project. Madhavan expressed that Aap Jaisa Koi resonated with him due to its authentic approach to casting based on age. He portrays a 48-year-old man in a relationship with a 28-year-old woman, exploring the viability and justification of such dynamics, which intrigued him.

Embracing Authenticity

Madhavan candidly shared that he has reached a stage in his career where pretending to be younger on screen feels uncomfortable. He admitted that the thought of romancing someone significantly younger while feigning the same age makes him “cringe.” What attracted him to this role was the character’s acceptance of his true age, emphasizing that he wanted to avoid creating an unrealistic or uncomfortable narrative for both the audience and himself.

A Shift in Storytelling

Referencing the recent film Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, where Ajay Devgn and Tabu received acclaim for their mature and realistic romantic pairing, Madhavan highlighted the growing recognition of age-appropriate storytelling. He noted that even Hollywood is becoming more mindful of casting decisions regarding age gaps in romantic roles. Audiences are no longer willing to accept a 50-year-old man acting like a teenager, and actors should refrain from attempting such portrayals. Madhavan humorously remarked on the absurdity of him playing a college student at 54, exclaiming, “Are you kidding me?”

Reflecting on Past Experiences

Looking back at his experience filming 3 Idiots, where he played a college student at 40, Madhavan admitted it made him quite anxious about audience acceptance. However, a surprising moment of relief came during filming when he and his co-stars Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi appeared younger than some actual college students on set. He chuckled at the memory of questioning whether the greying, balding individuals around them were professors or students, only to find out they were indeed students. This unexpected visual provided a strange boost of confidence for the trio.

Owning His Age

Currently, Madhavan is filming De De Pyaar De 2, where he plays Rakul Preet Singh’s father—another indication of his comfort in embracing his age on screen. If Aap Jaisa Koi is any indication, he is doing so with both charm and authenticity.