Sara Arjun and Ranveer Singh to Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan: Actors who romanced co-stars with over a 20-year age gap

Age has never been a dealbreaker in showbiz, especially when filmmakers and casting directors pair actors with co-stars too young for comfort. With decades separating some on-screen lovers, these casting choices raised eyebrows and questions about the industry's long-standing comfort with wide age gaps.
From Ranveer Singh and Sara Arjun's pairing in 'Dhurandhar' to Jaideep Ahlawat and Andrea Kevichüsa's casting in 'The Family Man' and Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan reuniting for 'King', here’s a look at actors who found themselves romancing co-stars with a 20-year, or far wider age difference.

'Dhurandhar' is ruling the headlines for its record-breaking run at the box office. But, long before the film could hit theatres, netizens had a lot to say about Ranveer Singh's casting opposite Sara Arjun, who is 20 years his junior. The two, who were cast as love interests, sparked debates about Bollywood’s casting patterns. However, after the film's release, no one seems to be complaining.

While Ranveer Singh faced the music online, netizens seemed to welcome Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone's casting in 'King', with open arms. The actress, who is 21 years SRK's junior has often been paired opposite him as his love interest. However, her role in 'King' remains a secret.

Known for his towering screen presence, Jaideep Ahlawat took on the role of the antagonist in the latest season of 'The Family Man'. The 45-year-old also managed to escape controversy when it was announced that 24-year-old Andrea Kevichusa, was playing his love interest.

One of the rare instances featuring an older woman and a younger man, Tabu, then 49 and Ishaan Khatter, who was 24, delivered one of the most memorable screen pairings in Mira Nair’s 'A Suitable Boy'. Their 25-year age difference was central to the story that explored themes of desire, maturity, and transgressive love.

'The Night Manager' had the internet swooning over Aditya Roy Kapur and Sobhita Dhulipala's casting, with some demanding more projects for the gorgeous pair. However, no one seemed to mind the nearly 35-year gap between Anil Kapoor and Sobhita. While it did raise eyebrows, once the show's release, fans could not have asked for a better cast in the series that saw Anil play an older man in a relationship with a much younger woman.

One of Bollywood’s most striking casting choices came in 'Dabangg 3', where Salman Khan romanced debutante Saiee Manjrekar, who was just 17 at the time of filming. The 36-year age gap between the two reignited criticism, especially because Salman was Saiee's father's friend. However, it was later revealed that Salman would romance the actress while playing the younger version of his character.