Salman Khan Defends Bollywood’s Age Gap Double Standards
Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Aamir Khan recently sparked debate about the film industry’s age gap double standards during their appearance on the premiere episode of “Two Much With Kajol & Twinkle.” The discussion highlighted the ongoing conversation about ageism and gender bias in Indian cinema.
Kajol Challenges Industry Norms
Host Kajol directly confronted the actors about Bollywood’s unequal treatment of age differences, asking why older male heroes romancing younger women is considered “cinema magic,” while older heroines with younger co-stars is labeled “bold.” Her pointed question exposed the industry’s long-standing gender bias that has favored male actors throughout their careers.
Aamir Khan responded diplomatically, suggesting that casting decisions should be made based on script requirements rather than predetermined notions. However, his response seemed to sidestep the deeper systemic issues that Kajol was addressing.
Salman’s Pragmatic Defense
Salman Khan offered a more detailed perspective, acknowledging that legendary actresses like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit could still carry films if given appropriate roles. He explained that the industry often seeks fresh pairings to avoid audiences perceiving certain combinations as stale, stating that extensive collaborations between actors can make their on-screen chemistry appear outdated.
When Kajol pressed that this logic doesn’t apply equally to older actresses, Salman countered by questioning the availability of suitable scripts for such scenarios. He argued that if compelling stories were written around older women and younger men, audiences would accept them, suggesting the real issue lies in script development rather than audience preferences.
The conversation highlighted Bollywood’s complex relationship with age, gender, and marketability, revealing how industry practices continue to reflect broader societal biases while also pointing toward potential solutions through better storytelling.
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Salman Khan-Kajol lock horns over age gap in films; if actress can romance younger man: ‘Kitni scripts aati aapke paas?’
Story by Ananya Das
• 21h •
2 min read
Salman Khan spoke about Bollywood on Two Much With Kajol & Twinkle.
Actor Salman Khan weighed in on what he thinks about the entertainment industry, differentiating between male and female actors romancing a younger heroine or hero, respectively. Salman and Aamir Khan were guests on the premiere episode of Two Much With Kajol & Twinkle.
Kajol questions Aamir, Salman about age gap between female, male actors in Bollywood
On the show, Kajol asked, “When the hero romances a younger woman, it’s called ‘cinema magic’. But when an older heroine romances a younger man, it’s called ‘bold’. Why do you think that is?” Responding to this, Aamir said that for him, casting “should be done based on requirement.”
What Salman has to say
Salman replied, “See, depending, like there was Sridevi. If she’d have kept on working, she could have still done. Madhuri can still play if there’s a role. If there’s a younger girl and if an upcoming star or a star or the producer or the director says, ‘Mujhe ye chahiye (I want him).’”
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“Ab itna kaam kar liya hain hum sab logone ki wo jodi purani lagti hain (We have worked together so much now that the pair looks old). So for a freshness in a film, that’s when you take up somebody else who you have not worked with that much,” he added. Kajol said, “It doesn’t work in the opposite way, though.”
Salman replied. “But aesi script hi kitni aati hain aap logo ke paas (But how many such scripts do you guys get)? I don’t think if the film is good and the story is woven around something like that, an older woman and a younger man, I don’t think anyone would mind that.”
Hindustan Times
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