The Age-Gap Divide: Kajol Calls Out Aamir and Salman Khan’s Evasion on Bollywood’s Double Standard in Romancing Younger Heroines

Introduction

The glamour of Indian cinema, particularly Bollywood, has long been intertwined with an unwritten rule: male superstars enjoy an ageless career, often romancing actresses half their age, while their female contemporaries are swiftly relegated to 'mother' roles. This glaring double standard was brought into sharp, public focus on the premiere episode of the celebrity chat show, Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle. The hosts, Kajol and Twinkle Khanna, cornered their legendary guests, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, with a direct question about this age-gap hypocrisy. What followed was a highly-publicized exchange where, according to Kajol's later admission, the superstars skillfully "beat around the bush," providing explanations that have since fueled an explosive and necessary social media debate on gender, casting, and power dynamics in the industry.

Kajol and Twinkle's Direct Challenge on 'Two Much'

The premise of the new chat show, co-hosted by the formidable duo of Kajol and Twinkle Khanna, was to engage in frank, healthy discussions with their former co-stars. They wasted no time in tackling one of the industry's most sensitive topics during the episode featuring the two Khans.

Kajol set the stage for the debate with a pointed question that encapsulated the entire issue: "When a hero romances a younger heroine, it's called 'cinema magic.' But when an older heroine romances a younger man, it's called 'bold.' Why do you think that is?"

This query immediately framed the inherent gender bias, contrasting the celebratory term "magic" used for the male-led pairing with the often-controversial and sensationalist label "bold" given to the reverse scenario.

Aamir Khan’s Defense: Story Requirement and Look

Aamir Khan's initial response centered on the narrative demands of filmmaking and the subjective perception of age on screen. He argued that casting should be based on the story's requirement, citing his own film, Dil Chahta Hai, where a younger Akshaye Khanna was paired with an older Dimple Kapadia as a rare exception to the norm.

However, when pressed by Twinkle Khanna on his frequent pairings with much younger heroines, such as Kareena Kapoor, Aamir attempted to deflect, asking the hosts, "But did Bebo and I not look the same age?" This particular comment quickly became fodder for online discussions, with many pointing out the significant age difference between them in their films together and labeling his response as an example of "selective memory." His defense pivoted to the classic filmmaker's line: "Filmmaking is not real, you have to understand that... it has to look right."

Salman Khan’s Rationale: 'Freshness' and Script Scarcity

Salman Khan offered a multi-faceted defense rooted in market dynamics and the perceived shelf-life of a pairing. He suggested that part of the reason for casting newer, younger actresses is to bring "freshness" to the on-screen jodi. Having worked with his contemporaries for decades, he argued, those pairings now look "dated" to a producer or director.

He also brought up the issue of opportunity, suggesting that older actresses could still play lead romantic roles if the scripts existed. "But how many scripts like that do you really get?" he questioned. This reasoning placed the onus partly on the dearth of stories centered around older female leads and younger male partners, indirectly suggesting that the systemic problem lies beyond the actors' personal choices alone.

The Hosts’ Rebuttal and The Core of the Debate

Kajol and Twinkle Khanna weren't easily placated by the superstar's explanations. They repeatedly brought the conversation back to the central imbalance: older male stars continue to be romantic leads well into their 50s and 60s, while actresses of the same age are often confined to playing the hero's mother or other non-romantic, secondary roles.

Twinkle Khanna powerfully articulated the contrast: "It's never the other way [around]. By the time, you're 40 or 50, you're already playing the heroine's mother. So, there's definitely a difference."

The exchange highlighted that while the Khans' reasoning around "freshness" and "script requirement" holds a partial truth, it skirts the underlying reality of a male-dominated industry structure that disproportionately limits the career longevity and romantic roles available to women.

Kajol’s Post-Show Admission: Beating Around the Bush

The ultimate confirmation that the core question remained unanswered came from Kajol herself in a post-show interview with a media outlet. She candidly admitted that her superstar friends had successfully sidestepped the issue.

"They went around the topic quite nicely," Kajol confessed. "He said, 'Maine kiya hai kya?' 'Tune kiya hai?' 'Really? Mujhe toh nahi laga.'... So ya, they beat around the bush. They didn't answer the question."

She acknowledged their evasiveness but also offered a perspective on why she couldn't "get mad" about it, suggesting that the issue is so deeply entrenched in the system and culture that it is largely "out of your control." Her comments served to amplify the debate, validating the audience's perception that the most powerful figures in Bollywood were unwilling or unable to directly address the systemic gender bias.

Public and Social Media Reaction

The segment, and Kajol’s follow-up comments, immediately went viral, sparking a massive online debate. Social media users largely sided with Kajol and Twinkle Khanna, criticizing the Khans' responses.

Commentators pointed to specific examples of older male stars being paired with much younger actresses, often citing the significant age differences. The public debate revolved around the idea that the male superstars, who are also producers and powerful industry figures, actively benefit from a system that denies their female contemporaries the same career path. The discussion transcended mere casting choices, becoming a broader critique of Bollywood's entrenched patriarchal norms, which dictate that male desirability is timeless, while female desirability has an expiration date.

Broader Implications on Age Dynamics in Indian Films

The on-air discussion and the subsequent comments by Kajol have forced a national conversation on the power and age dynamics within Indian cinema.

This is not a new issue, but when a top-tier female star publicly calls out the most powerful male stars, it lends significant weight to the argument. The debate highlights several key implications:

1. Gendered Career Trajectories: The difference in available roles based on age clearly illustrates the gendered career path in the industry, where male stars transition into 'mature' leads, while female stars transition out of romantic leads.

2. The 'Bold' Stigma: The application of the term 'bold' to older heroines romancing younger men suggests a societal discomfort and a lack of normalization for such pairings, contrasting sharply with the easy acceptance of the inverse.

3. Filmmaking as a Reflection of Society: While Aamir and Salman pointed to 'script' and 'freshness,' the hosts' argument implied that the lack of relevant scripts for older female leads is a symptom of a larger, male-dominated ecosystem that is reluctant to portray women's lives, desires, and sexuality beyond a young age.

4. Star Power vs. Accountability: Kajol's comment about the Khans "beating around the bush" suggests that even when confronted, the sheer magnitude of their star power allows them to deflect uncomfortable questions and avoid direct accountability for perpetuating the status quo.

Conclusion

Kajol's pointed question and subsequent observation about Aamir and Salman Khan's reluctance to offer a direct answer on the age-gap controversy in Bollywood have created a defining moment for the debate on gender parity in Indian cinema. While Aamir and Salman offered logical explanations tied to "story requirement" and the need for "freshness," Kajol's core argument—that this logic only applies in one direction—underscored the industry's systemic double standard. The viral discussion generated proves that audiences are no longer accepting the age bias as 'cinema magic' but are actively scrutinizing the patriarchal structures that sustain it. This on-screen confrontation, and the off-screen admission of evasion, ensures that the conversation about equal opportunities and the ageism faced by female stars will continue to be a central, inescapable topic in Bollywood for the foreseeable future.

FAQ's

Q1: What talk show did Kajol and Twinkle Khanna host where this debate took place?

A: The debate about the age dynamics in Indian cinema took place on the premiere episode of the celebrity chat show, Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle, which streams on Prime Video India.

Q2: What was the main question Kajol posed to Aamir Khan and Salman Khan?

A: Kajol asked, "When a hero romances a younger heroine, it's called 'cinema magic.' But when an older heroine romances a younger man, it's called 'bold.' Why do you think that is?"

Q3: How did Salman Khan defend the pairing of older heroes with younger heroines?

A: Salman Khan offered two main points: that working repeatedly with contemporaries makes the pairing look "dated," necessitating a younger, "fresh" co-star; and that there is a scarcity of scripts written for an older woman romancing a younger man.

Q4: What was Aamir Khan's primary defense for the age difference in on-screen pairings?

A: Aamir Khan argued that casting "should be done based on requirement" of the story and that ultimately, "filmmaking is not real, you have to understand that. It has to look right." He also rhetorically asked if he and his younger co-star, Kareena Kapoor, did not look the same age.

Q5: What did Kajol later admit about the Khans' responses in a post-show interview?

A: In a follow-up interview, Kajol admitted that Aamir and Salman Khan "beat around the bush" and "didn't answer the question" directly, essentially evading the core issue of the industry's double standard.