The upcoming Bollywood film Dhurandhar has triggered a wave of online discussions and criticism, mainly for casting Ranveer Singh opposite the young actress Sara Arjun who is approximately 21 years old while Ranveer is close to 39. The speculated 18-year age difference between the leads has not gone unnoticed by netizens who have labeled the casting “regressive” and “tone-deaf”, especially in an industry striving to evolve with modern values of gender parity and realism in storytelling.
What further fueled the backlash is the public memory of Sara Arjun’s early career. She is still widely remembered as the child actress from Jazbaa (2015), where she played Aishwarya Rai’s daughter. Audiences now find it unsettling to see her reportedly play a romantic lead opposite a significantly older male star.
Although the filmmakers of Dhurandhar have not confirmed whether the lead characters share a romantic arc, promotional posters and industry chatter have hinted at an onscreen pairing, prompting intense debate. Critics argue that this pattern is a glaring reminder of Bollywood’s persistent tendency to age out women actors while giving male actors extended romantic shelf lives.
Big Age-Gap Romances in Bollywood
The casting trend in Dhurandhar is far from isolated. Bollywood has, for decades, normalised romantic leads with wide age gaps, especially where older male actors are paired with young, often debutant actresses.
Below are eight such films that drew similar attention:
1. Tiku Weds Sheru (2023):
Produced by Kangana Ranaut, Tiku Weds Sheru cast Nawazuddin Siddiqui (49) opposite Avneet Kaur (21), resulting in a staggering 28-year age gap. The romantic track between the two characters felt jarring to many viewers. Critics questioned the power dynamics and optics of such a pairing, especially since Avneet had begun her career as a child artist on Indian television.
Despite Kangana Ranaut defending the casting by stating the film required an unconventional love story, the film faced strong criticism. The romantic chemistry failed to resonate and the age difference remained the most talked about element of the movie, overshadowing its narrative.
2. Samrat Prithviraj (2022):
In this historical drama, Akshay Kumar (55) was cast as the legendary King Prithviraj Chauhan while Manushi Chhillar (25) played Sanyogita, marking a 30-year age gap. Although the film was based on historical characters, critics argued that Bollywood had missed an opportunity to cast age-appropriate actors in an already dramatised narrative.
Akshay faced widespread trolling, with social media users questioning how an actor in his mid-fifties convincingly portrays a youthful warrior king romancing a young princess. Many felt the age gap diminished the authenticity of the relationship and made the romance feel forced.
3. Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai (2021):
Salman Khan, aged 55 at the time, played the titular role in Radhe opposite Disha Patani who was 28. The 27-year age difference was not only evident onscreen but also became a meme-fest on social media. Salman’s insistence on playing youthful roles with younger actresses has long drawn criticism but Radhe amplified the issue.
Audiences were especially critical of the lack of chemistry and awkward romantic sequences between the leads. The film itself was panned for its weak script but the inappropriate casting choice became the central point of its criticism.
4. Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005) :
In Waqt: The Race Against Time, Amitabh Bachchan (63) and Shefali Shah (33) played a married couple, marking a 30-year age difference. While the film wasn’t centered on their romance and focused more on the father-son dynamic between Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, the onscreen portrayal of the married couple did raise eyebrows.
5. Nishabd (2007):
Amitabh Bachchan (64) plays a man entangled in a controversial storyline with Jiah Khan (18), a staggering 46-year age gap. The film was widely criticised for glamorising a taboo relationship, with many viewers finding the pairing intensely uncomfortable.
6. Cheeni Kum (2007):
Amitabh Bachchan (64) falls in love with Tabu (34), roughly a 29‑30-year difference. Unlike Nishabd, the narrative frames the romance as mature and tasteful. It received critical praise for handling the subject with emotional sensitivity and nuance.
7. De De Pyaar De (2019):
Ajay Devgn (50) stars opposite Rakul Preet Singh (26), with an approximate 24-year gap. The film depicts an NRI man dating a younger woman and introducing her to his family, leading to drama and comedy.
8. Sikandar (2025)
Salman Khan, aged around 59, stars opposite Rashmika Mandanna, 28 — a 31-year age gap that became central to media and audience commentary. At the trailer launch, Salman defended the pairing, stating, “If the heroine and her father are fine, why are others objecting?” He even joked he would work with her future daughter if she becomes a star. Social media responded harshly, many called his remarks “creepy and cringe” and criticised the glossed-over power imbalance implied by the casting.
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