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Ranveer Singh's first look in his upcoming flick Dhurandhar was unveiled on his 40th birthday. Apart from the ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal in key roles, the movie introduces 20-year-old Sara Arjun as Ranveer's love interest.
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However, following the teaser release, the 20-year age gap between the lead pair has sparked a stir on social media. Netizens have criticised the pairing and have slammed the makers for the 'mismatched pairing', calling it creepy. Amid this, Kajol has reacted to the age gap row.
Whoever casted the #Dheivathirumagal kid #SaraArjun opposite #RanveerSingh in #Dhurandhar and thought it was a good idea is going to hell for sure. pic.twitter.com/rohMwQ7gtW
— Celluloid Conversations (@CelluloidConve2) July 6, 2025
Kajol Reacts to Actors Romancing Much Younger Actresses
The controversy surrounding the significant age gap between the lead pairings in Indian films is a recurring theme. Be it Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan or Ajay Devgn, several actors have been criticised by netizens for their on-screen romance with actresses half their age. Well, the recent pair of Ranveer and Sara has once again stirred the controversy.
Amid this, Kajol has shared her perspective on ageism in the entertainment industry.
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During an interview with The Lallantop, Kajol said that older male actors have often been paired with actresses almost 30 years younger than them. And this practice continues because it has gone unchallenged for decades. She also talked about the commercial nature of the industry and said that, eventually, filmmaking is a business, and filmmakers make what they think will sell.
Citing the example of the huge age difference between the male and female actors in movies, Kajol said, “I feel this kind of discrimination has been acceptable for so long. Take Rajni sir, for example, or any of the heroes—there isn’t a single actor who hasn’t worked with heroines 30 years younger than them, even when they’re in their 40s or older."
Further, she added, "It’s just been happening for so long that no one has really questioned it. No one has asked: Why is this happening? Should this still be happening? What message are we sending out?"
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The Maa star also said that filmmakers prioritise creating a setup they believe will work for the audience. And as filmmaking is a business, the makers will choose actors who are 'marketable' or likely to attract viewers, even if it means casting older male actors opposite much younger actresses.
