Madhuri Dixit with younger co-stars

Well, they weren't paired together but Ishaan Khatter posing with Madhuri Dixit I'm sure meant a lot to him as a young dancer. There is an age gap of 28 years, 5 months, and 17 days between them! They weren't paired together, just danced together for a song. 

In reverse however, aging Bollywood actors with increasingly younger actresses remains common. 

Now, Madhuri Dixit and Akshay Khanna worked in a long, boring, loud film together - even though she had worked with Akshay Khanna's father Vinod Khanna, and there is an age gap of 7 years, 10 months, and 13 days between them. The pr overdrive that year - 1997 - came from the film's camp that insisted that Madhuri was looking so good (she was!) that it doesn't look like an age-gap. Er... well... 

Mohabbat released on September 19, 1997 and was a major commercial failure - classified as a box office flop. However, its soundtrack (composed by Nadeem-Shravan and featuring hits like "O Baby Don't Break My Heart") was highly successful and became one of the top-selling music albums of that year. They went on to work together again years later in Aaja Nachle. Which also flopped.

The massive age gap between veteran male superstars and their much younger female co-stars is one of the most widely discussed and debated casting trends in contemporary Bollywood. While leading men in their 50s and 60s continue to play youthful, romantic leads, their female contemporaries are rarely offered the same roles, leading to a widening age disparity.

Here is a breakdown of the most notable age gaps featuring the industry's biggest stars.

1. Salman Khan

Across his career, Salman Khan's average co-star age gap has drastically widened from a modest 4-year difference in 1989 to over 20+ years in the 2010s and 2020s.

• Saiee Manjrekar in Dabangg 3 (2019) — 36-Year Gap: This is the largest age gap in Salman’s filmography. At the time of the film's release, Salman was 54 and Saiee was just 18.

• Rashmika Mandanna in Sikandar (2025) — 31-Year Gap: Salman (59) starred opposite Rashmika (28) in this action film.

• Disha Patani in Radhe (2021) & Bharat (2019) — 27-Year Gap: Disha was 27 when she romanced a 54-year-old Salman in Bharat.

2. Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar's filmography features a consistent rotation of newly debuting actresses, leading to several massive age gaps.

• Manushi Chhillar in Samrat Prithviraj (2022) — 30-Year Gap: Akshay (55) made his period-drama romantic pairing opposite former Miss World Manushi Chhillar (25).

• Wamiqa Gabbi in Bhooth Bangla (2026) — 26-Year Gap: Akshay (58) addressed public chatter regarding his pairing with Wamiqa (32) by noting that age differences are common in both Hollywood and real-world marriages.

• Amy Jackson in Singh Is Bliing (2015) — 25-Year Gap: Akshay was 48 while Amy was 23.

3. Shah Rukh Khan

While SRK is celebrated for his romantic chemistry, his pairings in the last two decades have frequently featured women more than two decades his junior.

• Alia Bhatt in Dear Zindagi (2016) — 27-Year Gap: Though the film intentionally explored a more therapeutic relationship with romantic undertones rather than a typical masala romance, the real-life gap was 27 years.

• Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) — 23-Year Gap: For her massive Bollywood debut, a 20-year-old Anushka was paired opposite a 43-year-old SRK. They later reunited for Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Zero.

• Deepika Padukone in Pathaan (2023) — 20-Year Gap: Deepika was introduced to cinema opposite SRK in Om Shanti Om (2007) when she was 21 and he was 42.

4. Ajay Devgn

• Rakul Preet Singh in De De Pyaar De (2019) & De De Pyaar De 2 (2025) — 24-Year Gap: This romantic comedy was unique because it actually weaponized and addressed the real-life age gap as the central plot point. Ajay Devgn played a 50-year-old divorcé dating a 26-year-old woman. The age gap was deliberate as it furthered the plot. 

Quick Comparison Table

Actor	Co-Star	Film (Year)	Actor's Age	Co-Star's Age	Age Gap
Salman Khan	Saiee Manjrekar	Dabangg 3 (2019)	54	18	36 years
Salman Khan	Rashmika Mandanna	Sikandar (2025)	59	28	31 years
Akshay Kumar	Manushi Chhillar	Samrat Prithviraj (2022)	55	25	30 years
Shah Rukh Khan	Alia Bhatt	Dear Zindagi (2016)	51	24	27 years
Akshay Kumar	Wamiqa Gabbi	Bhooth Bangla (2026)	58	32	26 years
Ajay Devgn	Rakul Preet Singh	De De Pyaar De (2019)	50	26	24 years
Shah Rukh Khan	Anushka Sharma	Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)	43	20	23 years

Why does this persist?

Historically, Bollywood has suffered from deep-rooted ageism regarding women. While male superstars are allowed to retain their "romantic hero" status indefinitely, female actors are often nudged toward maternal or supporting roles once they reach their late 30s. When questioned about the trend, actors like Salman Khan have pointed out that after decades in the industry, pairing with actresses from their own generation can sometimes feel "repetitive" to audiences, leading filmmakers to seek "fresh" pairings. It is a weak excuse from a, quite frankly, weak actor. 

Sanjay Dutt with Aishwarya Rai at the premiere of Shabd

The Pretentious Disaster of Shabd (2005)

When Shabd hit theaters on February 4, 2005, it arrived riding a wave of unexpected, behind-the-scenes drama.

Before the release, producer Rangita Nandy—daughter of media legend Pritish Nandy—caused a major Bollywood scandal when she asked Gauri Khan (wife of ShahrukH Khan - who didn't attend), and Karan Johar to leave an exclusive preview screening because it was allegedly restricted strictly to the cast and crew. Intoxicated by production authority, Rangita triggered an immediate media backlash. Recognizing the sheer weight of "the Wrath of Khan," a humbled Pritish Nandy spent the next day doing damage control, issuing public apologies to King Khan. Shah Rukh graciously claimed to have forgiven the insult, but Bollywood has a long memory. Karan Johar later snickered about the whole affair with his signature wit, quipping that he was actually grateful to be kicked out since it saved him from watching a terrible movie.

Hard to argue with Karan on that one.

Shabd crashed hard at the box office, quickly earning a "Disaster" status from trade analysts.

Opening the exact same day (February 4, 2005) was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s masterwork Black, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji. Black captured all the critical acclaim and audience attention. Meanwhile, Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3 (released late January 2005) was riding strong word-of-mouth to become the month's surprise hit. Faced with heavyweights on both sides, Shabd’s pretentious plot about an author (Sanjay Dutt) manipulating his wife (Aishwarya Rai) into an affair with a younger professor (Zayed Khan) was laughed off the screen. Director Leena Yadav lamented that the audience "didn't get it," but the truth was simple: audiences got it, they just didn't give a shit about it! Ludicriously pretentious, as most films about writers often are, it was trying to be cleverer than it was. And it just wasn't smart. The writing was pedestrian, especially the chapters read out aloud by Dutt in the film. Its risible after effect was unintentional comedy, people were laughing - and walking out. 

If Shabd is remembered for anything positive, it’s purely visual. Aishwarya Rai looked like an ethereal dream. Styled in distinct diaphanous sarees paired with string bikini blouses, she brought a curvy, magnetic elegance that transcended the empty script. The cinematography (by Aseem Bajaj) and soundtrack (especially tracks like "Sholon Si") treated Rai as a work of art.

Today, social media is flooded with endless AI-generated renders of Aishwarya Rai, but none of that glossy "AI slop" comes close to capturing her actual sharp, flawless features in motion during this era. Shabd remains a hard pass as a film, but as a music video showcase for mid-2000s Rai, it holds a place in visual history—even if the producer’s hubris remains its most enduring legacy. 

 

Aishwarya Rai and Somy Ali

If you know.. you know! 

Bollywood icon and legandary beauty Aishwarya Rai. 

Somy Ali. 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's underrated gem: Sarbjit

Released on May 20, 2016, I saw Sarbjit in a near-empty cinema years ago - and on my birthday! Left the theatre in tears, was just deeply moved by the film  - particularly as I went to the screening with my sister. 

A powerful biographical drama directed by Omung Kumar, chronicling the real-life tragedy of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer from Bhikhiwind, Punjab. Mistakenly arrested in 1990 after straying across the border while drunk, he was convicted by Pakistan as a spy and terrorist for 1990 Lahore and Faisalabad bombings that killed 14 people. He spent 22 harrowing years in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on death row. His sister Dalbir Kaur’s tireless campaign for justice defined the story until his brutal prison attack in April 2013 led to his death days later.

Randeep Hooda delivered a transformative performance as Sarabjit, a title role and tour-de-force performance that deserved more accolades, awards, recognition, honour.... and yet, it all got eclipsed by the superstar and supreme beauty of his co-star, 'the' Aishwarya Rai. Note how Rai dominates all the publicity posters and stills of the movie - the makers knew they could lean on Rai to bring in audiences, far more than Hooda can - even though, it was 'his' movie. He delivers a shattering performance, but we walked away thinking, even in the shots of Rai serving, cleaning, washing at the Golden Temple, she looked so staggeringly beautiful.  

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s portrayal of Dalbir Kaur stands as one of her most underrated acts. The makers made a genuine effort to de-glamorize the global icon - dressing her in simple salwar kameez, minimal makeup, and village-appropriate looks to embody a resilient, ordinary Punjabi woman fighting systemic injustice. Yet, Rai’s staggering beauty and razor-sharp bone structure shone through irresistibly. Even in raw, stripped-down scenes with the makeup toned down, her luminous features and screen presence proved it takes real effort to de-glamorise 'the' Aishwarya Rai. 

She brought sincerity, quiet strength, and emotional depth, shining her luminescent light on this ordinary family’s decades-long pain, suffering, and unyielding hope.

Despite its importance as a true story highlighting cross-border human tragedy, the film received lukewarm reviews and modest reception. It earned around ₹43.8 crore worldwide against a ₹15 crore budget - turning a profit but failing to become a major hit or blockbuster. However, any sensible producer would have known that this wouldn't make 'Dhoom' money, hence it was modestly budgeted - yet packed a powerful punch. 

Many believe audiences stayed away because it lacked a typical Bollywood redemption arc or happy ending. In a country where life is already hard, viewers often seek escapist narratives that reassure them good triumphs and justice prevails. Sarbjit offered no such comfort - mirroring reality’s harshness.

Rai deserved far more accolades for lending her immense star power to this touching tale. Her committed performance got somewhat lost in the haze, though she won Best Actress at events like the BIG ZEE Entertainment Awards and IFFAA. At a time when it was trending to take potshots at the actress, the media seemed wildly reluctant to give her, her flowers } to pilfer the parlance of today. Rai's staggering beauty has always eclipsed her all other skillsets. No matter how hard she works as a dancer, actor, orator, fashionista, her God-given, genetically blessed pulchritude supersedes all. 

An important, well-intentioned film that deserved a wider audience. Hopefully, new gen will find it online and or on OTT. 

Madhuri Dixit Nene with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Niranjan Iyengar crashing a pic featuring the two most photogenic women in Bollywood; Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai.

Beauties and the... um.. East?! 

Aishwarya Rai and Shahrukh Khan in Shakti

Though it was a guest appearance in just the song, Aishwarya Rai and Shahurkh Khan's superhit number Ishq Kamina is all we remember from the Karisma Kapoor-led film Shakti. 

WIth the heavy eye-makeup and saucy stunning looks, its staggering how stunning Ash looked in the song. 

Blonde Ambition: when bad wigs happen to Bollywood babes: Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala and Urmila

 

Blonde Ambition: when bad wigs happen to Bollywood babes: Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala and Urmila 

So many... nos! 

Janhvi Kapoor poses at home

 ....and yes, all we see is the portrait of Sridevi with Boney Kapoor on the mantle. 

Madhuri Dixit by Gautam Rajadhyaksha

Madhuri Dixit by Gautam Rajadhyaksha. 

Much has been written about the symbiotic relationship between dancer Madhuri Dixit and choreographer Saroj Khan, her frequent collaborations with actors like Anil Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan... but the most fruitful, flawless friendship and working relationship she shared was with the gentle giant of photography, the late great Gautam Rajadhyaksha. 

They experimented with looks, style, lighting, poses, wardrobe, wigs... With the aid of the master of makeup, Mickey Contractor. So many of Gautam da's photo essays, books had Madhuri on the cover. In her, he found his perfect muse. In him, a mentor. Fate took him so suddenly - Madhuri was in the US and couldn't even attend his funeral or prayers in time. 

Alas. A rich, photogenic chapter ended so abruptly. 

Many have worked with Dixit since and before, but nothing quite like what the holy trinity of media pulled together; Madhuri, Mickey and Gautam. 

Pooja Bhatt

 

Pooja Bhatt was a petite actress of the 90s - and decked up to the hilt here wearing Xerxes Bhathena's designer desi-wear... it looks like a child wearing grown up clothes. Like Pooja invaded Dimple Kapadia's wardrobe and tried it on for fun. The fit just isn't right. The make up is too much and the hair is... 80s big. 

Put her in summer casuals without a hint of makeup and the naturally pretty babe-next-door appears. 

She was such an icon of the care-free youth movement.