Bollywood has a long-standing tradition of pairing significantly older male actors with much younger actresses in romantic roles, a pattern that persists into 2025 with Salman Khan’s upcoming film Sikandar. In this film, the 59-year-old actor stars opposite 28-year-old Rashmika Mandanna, resulting in a 31-year age gap. This casting choice reignites the ongoing debate: Why does Bollywood consistently favor this trend, often overlooking age-appropriate actresses?
Bollywood’s obsession with youth: 10 films where older actors romance much younger actresses
Bollywood’s Troubling Age Gaps
Below is a list of ten films that exemplify Bollywood’s habit of casting older male actors with much younger female co-stars, highlighting a norm that has shaped the industry for decades. These examples are presented in descending order of age gap for clarity.
Salman Khan and Saiee Manjrekar in Dabangg 3 (33 years)
Age Gap: 33 years
In Dabangg 3 (2019), Salman Khan (born 1965) plays a police officer with a romantic flashback involving Saiee Manjrekar (born 1998). At the time of release, Salman was 54, and Saiee was 21. This 33-year age difference underscores Bollywood’s comfort with pairing veteran actors with much younger actresses.
Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna in Sikandar (31 years)
Age Gap: 31 years
Set for release in 2025, Sikandar features Salman Khan (59) alongside Rashmika Mandanna (28). Their 31-year age gap has sparked renewed discussions about Bollywood’s reluctance to cast women closer in age to its leading men, perpetuating a youth-centric bias for actresses.
Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar in Samrat Prithviraj (30 years)
Age Gap: 30 years
In the historical drama Samrat Prithviraj (2022), Akshay Kumar (born 1967) was 55, while Manushi Chhillar (born 1997) was 25. Their 30-year age difference exemplifies Bollywood’s preference for younger actresses, even in period romances.
Amitabh Bachchan and Soundarya in Sooryavansham (30 years)
Age Gap: 30 years
In Sooryavansham (1999), Amitabh Bachchan (born 1942) plays the iconic character, Heera Thakur, and romances Soundarya (born 1972). During filming, Amitabh was 57, and Soundarya was 27, creating a 30-year age gap that reflects Bollywood’s long-standing casting preferences.
Amitabh Bachchan and Manisha Koirala in Lal Badshah (28 years)
Age Gap: 28 years
In Lal Badshah (1999), Amitabh Bachchan (born 1942) takes on a dual role, with one character romancing Manisha Koirala (born 1970). At 57 and 29 respectively, their 28-year age difference reinforces the industry’s tendency to favor older male leads in romantic narratives.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur in Tiku Weds Sheru (27 years)
Age Gap: 27 years
The 2022 film Tiku Weds Sheru pairs 48-year-old Nawazuddin Siddiqui with 21-year-old Avneet Kaur. This 27-year gap highlights Bollywood’s ongoing practice of casting seasoned actors opposite significantly younger actresses.
Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (23 years)
Age Gap: 23 years
When Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) released, Shah Rukh Khan (born 1965) was 43, and Anushka Sharma (born 1988) was 20. This 23-year gap marked Anushka’s debut, reinforcing Bollywood’s trend of pairing young newcomers with established male stars.
Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu in Dunki (22 years)
Age Gap: 22 years
In Dunki (2023), Shah Rukh Khan (born 1965) was 58, while Taapsee Pannu (born 1987) was 36. Their 22-year difference in this social comedy-drama aligns with Bollywood’s standard casting practices.
Aamir Khan and Asin in Ghajini (20 years)
Age Gap: 20 years
In the 2008 blockbuster Ghajini, Aamir Khan (born 1965) was 43, romancing Asin (born 1985), who was 23. This 20-year gap in a high-octane action-thriller underscores Bollywood’s preference for younger actresses in romantic roles.
Ajay Devgn and Tamannaah Bhatia in Himmatwala (20 years)
Age Gap: 20 years
In the 2013 remake of Himmatwala, Ajay Devgn (born 1969) was 43, while Tamannaah Bhatia (born 1989) was 23. This 20-year difference in a masala entertainer reflects Bollywood’s ongoing trend of pairing older actors with youthful co-stars.
The Double Standard: When Women Are Older
Though rare, Bollywood has occasionally flipped this trend. In Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Akshaye Khanna (born 1975) was paired with Dimple Kapadia (born 1957), creating an 18-year gap. Similarly, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (born 1973) opposite Ranbir Kapoor (born 1982), with a 9-year difference. These exceptions, however, remain outliers in an industry that predominantly favors older men with younger women.
Noteworthy Exclusions
Films like Nishabd (2007), Cheeni Kum (2007), and De De Pyaar De (2019) are not included in this list because the significant age gaps between their lead pairs—Amitabh Bachchan and Jiah Khan (46 years), Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu (29 years), and Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh (22 years) respectively—were intentional demands of the script. In these cases, the age difference was a narrative necessity, unlike the other examples where it reflects industry casting norms.
Conclusion: Bollywood’s Age Bias Persists
For decades, Bollywood has embraced romances with stark age disparities, perpetuating outdated beauty standards and sidelining talented actresses beyond their 30s. The lingering question is: When will Bollywood move beyond this entrenched casting bias?
Also Read: Dear Bollywood Producers, Bollywood’s nostalgia game is going too far. Please STOP overdoing film re-releases!
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