Kajol calls out Bollywood for constantly pairing aging male actors with much younger actresses. Here’s what she said—and why her words matter.
Kajol has never been the one to mince her words.
Kajol has never been the one to mince her words. Whether it’s about the state of Bollywood, her career choices, or industry politics—she’s refreshingly honest in an industry where diplomacy is often the safer route. And this week, she once again sparked a much-needed conversation by calling out a long-standing issue in Hindi cinema: the obsession with pairing aging male superstars with much younger female leads.
In a recent interview, the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge star openly criticized this outdated casting trend, saying, “You’ll always see a 50-year-old hero romancing a 20-something heroine. But god forbid a 40-year-old actress is cast opposite a younger guy — suddenly, it’s unrealistic?”
It wasn’t just a throwaway comment. Kajol said what a lot of people—especially women in the industry—have been feeling for years but rarely say out loud.
A Pattern That Refuses to Die
Scroll through the biggest Bollywood hits of the last two decades, and a very clear pattern emerges. Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and even Hrithik Roshan are still cast as the male leads — but their female co-stars keep getting younger.
In Pathaan, Shah Rukh (then 57) was paired with Deepika Padukone (in her 30s). In Samrat Prithviraj, Akshay Kumar (around 54) romanced Manushi Chhillar, who was just 25. In Satyaprem Ki Katha, Kartik Aaryan (32) played opposite Kiara Advani (31) — that’s fine. But reverse the roles, and suddenly people call it “odd” or “uncomfortable.”
Kajol’s frustration isn’t just about vanity or screen time. It’s about representation, fairness, and double standards. Why does Bollywood keep selling the fantasy that older men are always desirable, but women have an expiration date?
It’s Not Just About Age — It’s About Power
Kajol made another powerful point when she said, “It’s not just about looking young. It’s about the narrative Bollywood has built—where a man can age and still be the hero, but a woman must stop being seen.”
In other words, ageism in Bollywood is deeply gendered. Men are allowed to evolve — from romantic hero to action star to family patriarch — while women often see their roles disappear after 35 unless they reinvent themselves in OTT dramas or “mother” roles.
And let’s be honest: this isn’t just about casting. It reflects a deeper societal mindset — where men are allowed to age gracefully, while women are pressured to freeze in time.
Public Reactions: Agreement, Applause, and a Little Bit of Denial
Unsurprisingly, Kajol’s comments struck a chord.
On social media, users flooded X (Twitter) and Instagram with support:
> “Finally, a mainstream actress said it! Kajol, you’re absolutely right. Tired of seeing 55-year-old men running around trees with girls young enough to be their daughters.”
> “Imagine casting Tabu or Rani opposite a 25-year-old guy. People would scream ‘desperate’ or ‘unrealistic.’ But no one bats an eye when the opposite happens.”
Why Kajol’s Voice Matters
Kajol isn’t just any actress. She’s part of the elite club of Bollywood royalty and still commands respect across generations. She’s also made bold career choices — from playing a mother in Tribhanga to choosing OTT platforms over forced glam roles. When someone like her speaks, it carries weight.
More importantly, she isn’t bitter — she’s insightful. She’s not pointing fingers for personal gain, but calling out a larger issue that affects countless talented women who are either ignored or sidelined by a rigid beauty standard.
Change Is Happening — But Slowly
To be fair, things are shifting, especially on streaming platforms. Shows like Delhi Crime (with Shefali Shah) or Mai (with Sakshi Tanwar) have shown that audiences are hungry for layered, mature female characters. But cinema — especially commercial Bollywood — still lags behind.
Ironically, when women over 40 do get roles, they’re often cast as emotional wrecks, sacrificing mothers, or ruthless villains. Rarely are they romantic leads, funny, flawed, or just human.
Final Thoughts: Will the Industry Listen?
Kajol’s words should be a wake-up call. Not just for filmmakers, but for audiences who consume these stories without questioning them.
Cinema reflects society, but it also shapes it. When we constantly show older men as charming and capable and women as invisible after a certain age, we’re reinforcing damaging ideas—not just about beauty, but about worth.
Maybe it’s time we asked better of Bollywood. Maybe it’s time we wrote love stories for Neena Gupta and Rani Mukerji. Maybe it’s time we stopped calling age-appropriate casting “risky” and started calling it real.
And maybe, just maybe, more stars like Kajol will keep speaking out—until no one needs to ask why a 40-year-old woman can’t be the heroine anymore.
read son of Sardaar 2 review: https://globixnow.com/son-of-sardaar-2-trailer-starring-ajay-devgn-gets-mixed-response-from-fans/