Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is gearing up for the release of his much-anticipated film Sikandar, slated to hit theaters on March 30. However, the film is generating buzz for reasons beyond its cinematic appeal, the 31-year age gap between Salman and his co-star Rashmika Mandanna has ignited a heated debate.
Addressing the criticism at a promotional event in Mumbai, Salman dismissed concerns over the age disparity, stating,
“If the heroine and her father don’t have a problem with the age gap, why are others questioning it?”
While some fans backed Salman’s response, others saw it as a reflection of Bollywood’s long-standing practice of casting much older male actors opposite younger female leads.
One of the strongest reactions came from singer Sona Mohapatra, known for her vocal stance on gender issues. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she slammed Salman’s statement, calling him the “Bhai of Toxic Masculinity” and criticising his reference to Rashmika’s father.
She wrote,
“‘Heroine aur heroine ke BAAP ko koi problem nahi hai?’ a garbage response when asked about the 31-year age gap with his leading lady. The ‘Bhai’ of toxic masculinity and patriarchy doesn’t realize that #India has changed?”
Salman’s original comment at the Sikandar trailer launch further fueled the debate. He remarked,
“They say there’s a 31-year age gap between the heroine and me. If the heroine is fine with it, if her father has no issue, then why is it a problem for others? If she gets married and has kids, I might even work with them. Of course, I’ll get permission from their mother too.”
While some defended Salman’s stance, arguing that casting choices are a personal matter, others believe it highlights Bollywood’s persistent trend of sidelining older actresses while promoting age-disparate pairings.
With online discussions intensifying, the controversy has once again brought Bollywood’s gender and age-gap casting dynamics under scrutiny.
