Who Will Win Rohit Saraf's Heart? Radhika Madan vs. Saba Azad | Feels Like Ishq | Netflix India
Beyond the Love Triangle: Unraveling the ‘Ishq’ of Rohit Saraf, Radhika Madan, and Saba Azad in the Netflix Anthology
When a star-studded cast like the one in Netflix India’s anthology, Feels Like Ishq, comes together, the speculation is inevitable. The idea of a dramatic, on-screen love triangle pitting the internet’s favourite crush, Rohit Saraf, between the vibrant Radhika Madan and the compelling Saba Azad, is the kind of cinematic dream that fuels countless fan theories and hot takes.
However, the beauty of Feels Like Ishq lies in its very format: it’s a collection of six distinct, standalone stories, each offering a fresh, modern take on the feeling of finding love in unexpected places. The much-speculated ‘triangle’ of Rohit Saraf vs. Radhika Madan vs. Saba Azad doesn’t exist. Instead, the anthology gives each actor a chance to shine in their own unique, heartwarming, and often unconventional journey of ishq (love).
The Anthology Format: Six Distinct Shades of Love
Feels Like Ishq is not a single, continuous narrative but a series of short films, each helmed by a different director and featuring separate casts and storylines. This creative structure means that instead of one central romance, viewers get six different explorations of young adult relationships, ranging from friends-turned-lovers to queer romance.
This is a crucial point for fans expecting a showdown: Rohit Saraf’s character, Radhika Madan’s character, and Saba Azad’s character are all protagonists in entirely separate episodes, each with their own unique romantic journey.
Rohit Saraf’s ‘Ishq’: The Star Host
Rohit Saraf, often dubbed “the National Crush,” stars in the episode titled “Star Host,” directed by Anand Tiwari.
His Story:
Saraf plays the role of Aditya, a young boy who decides to rent out his parents’ beautiful villa in Mahabaleshwar to earn money for a dream trip to see the Northern Lights.
His True Match:
His on-screen love interest is not Radhika Madan or Saba Azad, but Tara, played by Simran Jehani. Tara is an unexpected solo traveller who shows up after a bad breakup, seeking a fresh start and a change of perspective. The episode focuses on the quiet, serendipitous love that blossoms between the host and his unconventional guest.
- Character Dynamic: Aditya is initially focused on the money and his Northern Lights dream, while Tara is finding her footing after being treated poorly by her ex-boyfriend. Their romance is built on shared vulnerability, exploring the local surroundings, and a mutual push towards self-discovery.
- The Verdict: Aditya finds his “ishq” with Tara (Simran Jehani), making their connection one of the most heartwarming stories in the anthology.
Radhika Madan’s ‘Ishq’: The Runaway Bride’s Best Friend
Radhika Madan, known for her powerful and spirited performances, leads the opening episode, “Save the Da(y)te,” directed by Ruchir Arun.
Her Story:
Madan plays Avani, the enthusiastic, somewhat ‘hopeless romantic’ best friend of a bride who develops cold feet and runs away just before the wedding baraat arrives.
Her True Match:
Avani’s romantic foil is Jay (Amol Parashar), the wedding planner who is roped into the frantic search for the runaway bride. Jay, being the cynical counterpart to Avani’s romantic nature, doesn’t believe in marriage or committed love due to his own parents’ history.
- Character Dynamic: The episode thrives on the witty banter and crackling chemistry between the two completely opposite individuals. They are forced to spend a day together, arguing about life, love, and commitment while racing against time to find the missing bride.
- The Verdict: Avani’s heart is won by the anti-romantic wedding planner, Jay (Amol Parashar), proving that opposites can indeed attract when circumstances force them together.
Saba Azad’s ‘Ishq’: A Celebration of Queer Love
Saba Azad is featured in one of the most critically acclaimed and important segments of the series, “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not,” directed by Danish Aslam.
Her Story:
Azad portrays Tarasha, a brazen, out-and-proud new employee at an advertising firm. Her story is a crucial exploration of contemporary queer romance in Indian cinema.
Her True Match:
Tarasha’s love interest is Muskaan (Sanjeeta Bhattacharya), a closeted advertising associate who instantly falls for Tarasha’s confidence and unique personality but struggles to confess her feelings.
- Character Dynamic: The episode beautifully navigates the complexities of a new queer relationship, dealing with Muskaan’s internal struggle with coming out and Tarasha’s past trauma from a toxic relationship. Their bond is one of mutual attraction, support, and vulnerability.
- The Verdict: Saba Azad’s Tarasha finds her “ishq” with Muskaan (Sanjeeta Bhattacharya), culminating in a beautiful ‘Bollywood moment’ kiss on the beach, celebrating the feeling of first love in a same-sex relationship.
The Real Win for the Viewers
The premise of a three-way battle for a heart is exciting, but the reality of Feels Like Ishq is much more satisfying. By separating the stars into six distinct narratives, the show avoids a predictable love triangle and instead offers a diverse bouquet of romantic experiences.
The show’s triumph is not in making one actor win another’s heart, but in making every single story feel like that first, electrifying, uncertain, yet beautiful feeling of falling in love. Whether it’s the quirky, high-energy chase in “Save the Da(y)te,” the introspective calm of “Star Host,” or the brave honesty of “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not,” the anthology delivers on its promise to capture the myriad shades of ishq for the young Indian audience.
In the end, everyone—Rohit Saraf, Radhika Madan, Saba Azad, and their respective co-stars—wins the audience’s heart by delivering genuine, relatable performances in their individual slices of love.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: Is Feels Like Ishq a movie or a series?
A: Feels Like Ishq is an Indian anthology television series that premiered on Netflix in 2021. It consists of a single season with six stand-alone episodes (or short films) that explore different stories of finding romantic connection.
Q2: Are Rohit Saraf, Radhika Madan, and Saba Azad in a love triangle together in the show?
A: No, the actors do not appear together in the same episode as a love triangle. Feels Like Ishq is an anthology, and each actor stars in a separate, independent story with a different set of co-stars.
Q3: Which episode does Rohit Saraf star in and who is his love interest?
A: Rohit Saraf stars as the character Aditya in the episode “Star Host.” His on-screen love interest is Tara, played by actress Simran Jehani.
Q4: Which episode features Saba Azad and what is her character’s story?
A: Saba Azad stars as Tarasha in the episode “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not.” Her story is a queer romance where her character falls in love with her colleague, Muskaan (Sanjeeta Bhattacharya).
Q5: Who is Radhika Madan’s co-star in her episode of Feels Like Ishq?
A: Radhika Madan stars as Avani in the episode “Save the Da(y)te.” Her main co-star and romantic partner in that story is Amol Parashar, who plays the wedding planner, Jay.
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