It is refreshing to see Bollywood steer away from testosterone-packed male-dominated action movies and embrace the feel-good romantic stories that act as fodder to our sweet daydreams. Aap Jaisa Koi, directed by Vivek Soni, and starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Sheikh in the lead roles, is a refreshing romantic drama about a couple that meets on a dating site. What happens next forms the crux of the story but if there’s one thing that definitely stands out, it is the gorgeous locations where the movie was shot. So we thought of taking you behind the scenes and giving you a glimpse of Aap Jaisa Koi shooting locations. Sit back, relax, and keep reading!
Aap Jaisa Koi Shooting Locations
The movie was primarily shot in three cities in India – Kolkata, Jamshedpur, and Mumbai. We’ll delve into these three cities that served as the backdrop for Aap Jaisa Koi.
Kolkata: The City Of Joy
Fatima Sana Sheikh’s character, Madhu, is a Bengali woman in her 30s, born and raised in Kolkata. So, it is obvious that you’ll get a glimpse of her hometown in the movie. The brilliant cinematography has perfectly captured the old-world charm of Kolkata. Its beautiful, Victorian-style buildings, colorful frescos, monuments, fountains, and busy streets paint the screen with a nostalgic tint.
You have many iconic Kolkata monuments featured in the movie. One such place is the iconic Coffee House on Kolkata’s College Street. This is where the main leads first meet for a lovely coffee date – a place that would go on to act as a catalyst for their blooming relationship.
Then there’s the Victoria Memorial, arguably one of the most recognizable places in the city making an appearance in the movie. If you’ve not been here yet, we’d highly recommend visiting the memorial when in Kolkata. There are only about a handful of Bollywood movies that have showcased Kolkata in all its visual glory, and we think Aap Jaisa Koi successfully manages to show Kolkata in its most poetic form.
Jamshedpur: The Steel City Of India
Madhavan’s character, Shrirenu, is shown to be hailing from a conventional, middle-class family from Jamshedpur, the Steel City of India. The city of Jamshedpur, thus served as the backdrop for many important scenes throughout the film, especially in the scenes involving Madhavan and his family.
Apart from serving as a shooting location, Jamshedpur is also the hometown of R. Madhavan! While the crew was shooting for the film in this city, Madhavan paid a visit to his school and that brought back memories of his childhood and teenage years, as mentioned by him in several media interviews.
While in Jamshedpur, we recommend visiting the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Tata Steel Zoological Park, Bhubaneshwari Temple, Dimna Lake, as well as Jubilee Park. The city is full of parks and green spaces where you can unwind and take in mesmerizing views of the city.
Mumbai: The City Of Dreams
While the exact Aap Jaisa Koi shooting locations haven’t been disclosed, the movie has been extensively shot in Mumbai. The City of Dreams has an undeniable charm that makes it a preferred shooting destination. Be it the sea-facing Marine Drive or the Victorian-era lanes of Mumbai’s Southern neighborhoods, each part of the city has its own story to tell.
When you’re in Mumbai, we highly recommend checking out iconic Mumbai landmarks like Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Siddhivinayak Temple, Dadar Chowpatty, Kala Ghoda Art District, Mahalaxmi Temple, and Haji Ali Dargah among others.
There are many other scenic tourist attractions, historic sites, and sites of religious and cultural importance that you can visit in Mumbai. To be honest, Mumbai looks like a small city but once you begin exploring its corners is when you realize that each neighborhood in the city has something unique to offer.
Why You Should Watch Aap Jaisa Koi
Aap Jaisa Koi isn’t your ordinary Bollywood romance! The movie revolves around a couple with a massive age gap navigating their relationship after they meet on a dating app. While the movie is primarily about the couple as they deal with their emotions, the movie also subtly talks about issues like patriarchy, social norms and expectations (especially those pertaining to women), and turbulent family dynamics.
Now that the movie has released on Netflix, it is receiving considerable praise for its exceptional direction, immaculate cinematography, and the stellar performances of the two leading actors. With picture-perfect frames, good music, a tightly woven plot, and noteworthy performances, Aap Jaisa Koi deserves to be on your weekend watchlist!
Summing Up
Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Sheikh, is a delightful, slow-burn urban romantic drama about two passionate individuals as they discover love in their 40s and 30s respectively. This isn’t your regular youthful urban romance, it’s the one that makes you pause and reflect and appreciate the fact that love knows no age. With the movie being shot in Kolkata, Jamshedpur, and Mumbai, we highly recommend that you watch this movie as soon as you can!
