R Madhavan has publicly shared his thoughts on age-gap romances in Bollywood, with recent remarks shedding light on Salman Khan‘s pairing with much younger actresses. Speaking candidly in early May, Madhavan referred to the ongoing discussion around Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna’s on-screen relationship in the film Sikandar, calling such casting choices increasingly unrealistic and difficult for audiences to accept. Madhavan, currently preparing for his role in the Netflix project Aap Jaisa Koi, emphasized his commitment to portraying characters that are reflective of his actual age, adding fresh perspective to a topic often debated in the Indian film industry.
The comments from R Madhavan came as he compared the age gap between romantic leads in Bollywood with trends in Hollywood, observing that such choices are now frowned upon globally.
“To romance a 28-year-old girl and to believe that both the characters is hum-umar ke log is a bit too much for everybody,”
Madhavan stated in his interview with News18. He used Salman Khan’s recent casting as an example, highlighting growing criticism of stories that ask viewers to suspend disbelief in the face of significant real-world age differences.
Madhavan, who is also filming De De Pyaar De 2, offered personal insight into his career’s approach to age and believability. In the forthcoming sequel, he will appear as the father to Rakul Preet Singh, a casting choice intentionally aligned with his actual age and evolving norms in contemporary cinema. The actor underscored that embracing roles suitable for his age not only fosters credibility but also resonates more truthfully with viewers. Reflecting on past experiences, Madhavan described his initial hesitation during the filming of 3 Idiots, recalling that meeting real students changed his view on age representation in movies. Despite feeling nervous at first, he and co-stars noticed that the students themselves faced real pressures, sometimes appearing older than the actors.
These developments mark a significant conversation within Bollywood, as Madhavan’s critique of unrealistic age-gap romances—exemplified by Salman Khan’s casting—raises questions about ongoing industry practices and audience expectations. His outspoken stance may encourage more authentic storytelling and age-appropriate roles, potentially influencing how future Bollywood films approach romantic pairings. As conversations around on-screen representation evolve, it remains to be seen if Salman Khan and his contemporaries will adopt similar changes or respond to shifting preferences among viewers.
