‘No one does romance like Shah Rukh Khan but one also needs a heroine of his age': R Madhavan on lack of age-appropriate romantic films in Hindi cinema
The first-look teaser of Aap Jaisa Koi has left R Madhavan fans excited. It's been a while since audiences have seen the Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein actor in a romantic film. In a recent interaction, Madhavan spoke about the dearth of romantic films in Hindi cinema and why filmmakers today find this genre less lucrative compared to others.
During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Madhavan gave the example of Hollywood classic As Good As It Gets and spoke about the lack of good romantic films centered around older men and women — who, he believes, are 'the most romantic people.'
Explaining why he chose to do Aap Jaisa Koi at a time when most projects are focused on action and thriller genres, he said, 'I don't recall any romcom that has worked on OTT platforms either. I know the Korean [dramas] work but I don't recall seeing any hardcore, Indian, romantic film. Let alone one that is age-appropriate for a 55-year-old. And I think they're the most romantic people in the world, because this generation, my generation, knows how much importance to give our partners, because we've lived through so much. It's low-hanging fruit to be plucked in this genre but we don't have writers. Writers who can see films like As Good as It Gets (1997) as romantic stories. I can't forget those dialogues!'
Madhavan dismissed the notion that love stories no longer appeal to audiences or generate money. He emphasised that well-written love stories can still find success. Referencing Shah Rukh Khan, the king of romance in Hindi films, he added, 'Don't blame the money. Get us a story, no? One that is well researched. No one does romance like Shah Rukh [Khan] but one needs a heroine of his age as well. That's getting difficult to find.'
Interestingly, the 54-year-old R Madhavan stars opposite 33-year-old Fatima Sana Shaikh in Aap Jaisa Koi. Both actors portray professors in the film. It is directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Karan Johar 's Dharmatic Entertainment.
R Madhavan made his Hindi film debut with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, which also starred Dia Mirza. While the film was a moderate success at the box office upon release, it developed a loyal fan following over the years and eventually achieved cult classic status due to frequent re-runs on television. He was last seen on the big screen in Kesari 2, alongside Akshay Kumar.
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