Bollywood loves its predictable formulas—high-octane action, melodramatic twists, and, of course, massive age gaps between male leads and their female co-stars. It’s a script so overused that it might as well be trademarked. While male superstars in their 50s continue to romance actresses in their 20s without raising an eyebrow, reversing the roles remains almost unthinkable.
Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna's latest film, 'Sikandar' has been making all the noise ahead of its much anticipated Eid release. While some are loving Bhaijaan's energy in the movie, many have questioned a 28-year-old Rashmika being cast opposite a 59-year-old Salman Khan. But this is not the first time that Bollywood's age gap has made us ask questions.
Bollywood Age Gaps That Have Shocked Us
Take Patiala House (2011), where a 43-year-old Akshay Kumar was cast opposite a 22-year-old Anushka Sharma—no one raised an eyebrow. Fast forward to Bharat (2019), and a 53-year-old Salman Khan was romancing 26-year-old Disha Patani. Or a 'Atrangi Re' where Sara Ali Khan romanced Akshay Kumar, who is 28 years older to him.
But what happens when an older actress romances a younger actor? Chaos. When 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi' (1996) featured Rekha opposite a much younger Akshay Kumar, the headlines weren’t about her stellar performance but how "odd" their pairing looked. With an age gap of 13 years between the duo, the audience raised their eyebrows.
However, if you contrast this with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, who have a 20-year age gap in films like Chennai Express and Pathaan, their chemistry is widely celebrated. Why the inconsistency?
Bollywood’s Obsession with Youth—For Women Only
Bollywood, like society, idolizes youth—at least for women. Once actresses hit their late 30s, they’re pushed into roles of mothers, aunts, or background characters, while their male co-stars continue playing leads well into their 60s. In fact, in films like 'Waqt: Race Against Time', Shefali Shah played the role of Akshay's mom. Shefali was 32 years old, while Akshay was 37!
Youth is treated as a woman’s greatest asset, whereas older male actors are seen as "charismatic" and "seasoned." The industry refuses to evolve, trapping actresses in an unfair system that values their age over their talent.
This isn’t just an on-screen issue—it’s a societal one. Older men dating younger women is considered aspirational, while older women dating younger men is ridiculed. Real-life couples like Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas or ex-couple Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor were constantly scrutinized and criticised.
