In the Indian entertainment industry, romancing younger female actresses is a common thing at its been going on for ages. Chandni (1989) starring Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi had an age gap of 10 years while Sashi Kapoor romanced actress, Shabana Azmi 12 years younger than him in Fakira (1976).
Then in Nishabd, Amitabh Bachchan was paired with Jiah Khan with a staggering 44-year age gap. So, what’s such a big deal when Salman Khan romances Rashmika Mandanna with a 31-year age gap?
This question was making rounds online when the cast of Sikandar was announced. Several netizens shared their frustration with such senior actors romancing younger generations of actresses while the senior actresses take retirement or get cast in mother or aunt roles. However, Salman Bhai claps back to this critic of age-gap in his trailer launch event of Sikandar.
Salman Khan’s Gives a Shoutout To His Critics ‘Tumko Kyun Dikkat Hai Bhai?’
Salman Khan, the ever-popular Bhai of Bollywood has romanced several young actresses from Bhagyashree to Katrina Kaif. However, his recent pairing with Rashmika Mandanna with an age gap of 31 years has backfired on Khan and his project. Hence Salman fired back at critics of his Sikandar trailer launch on Sunday in Mumbai against the hate,
When asked about the trolling around the film due to the age gap, Khan said, “Beech mein aisa gadbad ho jaata hai ki 6-7 raat soye nahin, fir vo social media vaale peeche padd jaate hain, unko dikhaana padta hai ki abhi bhi hai (At times, things get so messed up that I don’t sleep for six to seven nights. Then, those social media people start chasing me, so I have to show them that I’m still here).”
Adding further, ““Phir woh bolte hain 31 years ka difference hai heroine aur mujh mein, arrey jab heroine ko problem nahi hai, heroine ke papa ko dikkat nahi hai, tumko kyun dikkat hai bhai? Inki shaadi hogi, bachchi hongi, toh unke sath bhi kaam karenge. Mummy ki permission toh mil hi jayega (Then they say there’s a 31-year age gap between me and the heroine. But if the heroine has no problem, and even her father has no issue, why do you have a problem, brother? When she gets married and has a daughter, I will work with her daughter too. Her mother’s permission will be sorted).”
At this remark, Rashmika Mandanna is seen laughing.
A Man’s World
More often than not we always question the men of society about the unfairness of workplace disparity in the film industry. However, the question remains why are these questions not directed towards women working in the film industry? Why do women stop working in the industry after marriage?
Today you can see exceptions being Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Rani Mukherjee, Kiara Advani, and Deepika Padukone. However, earlier this was not the case as most in the Kapoor and Bachchan family were against women working in films after marriage.
Other directors felt that women lose audience love and attention after marriage leading to loss in film audiences. This is why these questions are directed towards the men in the film industry who set the standard for young blood to star opposite heroes. While the senior actress goes on a long hiatus after marriage.
However among the new generation of actresses in the 2000s Shah Rukh Khan romanced Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai in Robot (2010) or Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar in Samrat Prithviraj (2022) among others. All the actors have an age gap of 22 to 30 years with their leading lady. So, why do these actresses choose to do this?
The answer is simple the entertainment industry just like other fields is a ‘Man’s World.’ So, there is nothing much to do but laugh at Salman Khan’s remark.
About Sikander
Mandanna stars opposite Salman Khan as his love interest in Sikandar that’s releasing on 31st March on the occasion of Eid. The film is being directed by AR Murugadoss, well known director of Tamil and Hindi films like Thuppakki, Sarkar, Ghajini, and Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. Sikandar also stars Kajal Aggarwal.
