Everyone was excited for Dharma’s latest rom-com Aap Jaisa Koi. Starring Fatima Sana Shaikh and R. Madhavan, fans were thrilled to see their beloved “Maddy” return to the romance genre.
While the movie was undeniably adorable, with Madhavan playing the shy and nervous Shrirenu opposite Fatima’s confident and strong Madhu, audiences couldn’t help but notice a pattern.
Many felt that Aap Jaisa Koi resembled a more mature version of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.
Viewers pointed out that both films featured a conservative male lead from a patriarchal family, while the female lead, coincidentally Bengali in both cases, comes from a more liberal, open-minded background.
Fans also noted that the repeated use of Bengali liberal families felt like stereotyping, and ultimately came across as lazy and repetitive.
Others criticized the film for being too preachy as if it was telling the audience what to think instead of letting them form their own opinions. Fans are done with being treated like they are dumb.
Many even said that Dharma may have fooled Netflix by recycling its own film, packaging it in a more aesthetic, sober way, and giving it back, only to earn money from it.
Some even went as far as calling 2 States, Rocky Aur Rani and Aap Jaisa Koi “spiritual sequels” from Dharma, highlighting their similar messaging and setups.
It’s understandable why certain stereotypes are used to make complex messages more digestible. But relying on them repeatedly feels more like a writing shortcut than a creative choice.
For example, making one of the lead characters Bengali in both films allowed the writers to incorporate familiar settings like Durga Puja or Saraswati Puja, but over time, this starts to feel formulaic.
While the film is a decent watch, many feel that Dharma could push the envelope and get more creative with their storytelling to truly broaden viewers’ horizons.
