From Priyal Mahajan and Amar Upadhyay to Ronit Roy and Shweta Tiwari; telly couples with a significant age gap paired together in romantic shows

Indian television has often shown couples with big age gaps in romantic roles. Some of these pairs were loved by the audience, while others created debates and criticism. From Priyal Mahajan and Amar Upadhyay’s 25-year age gap in Molkki to popular pairs like Ronit Roy and Shweta Tiwari, these on-screen couples have challenged norms, started conversations, and given viewers memorable chemistry.

In Molkki, Priyal was only 19 while Amar was 44 when they played a married couple. The show itself focused on the issue of age-gap marriages, which made their 25-year difference part of the story. Many people still criticised the casting saying it was unfair to put such a young actress opposite a much older male lead. The pairing sparked a debate on how television often casts young women in roles like this. (Photo: Instagram)

In Tumm Se Tumm Tak, Sharad and Niharika had an age gap of 28 years, which quickly grabbed attention. The show focuses on modern love where emotions clash with social barriers. Niharika shared with Times of India TV that she never felt uncomfortable filming with Sharad, since many of her past co-stars were also much older than her. “I have never felt uncomfortable while doing romantic scenes with him. My past co-actors have also had at least a 10–15-year age gap. I have never done any project with someone of my age.” (Photo: Instagram)

In Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Harshad and Pranali’s 16-year age gap did not stop audiences from loving them as a couple. Fans praised their chemistry saying that it felt both fresh and mature at the same time. Their pairing managed to blend old-school family drama with modern storytelling, making it a hit with viewers. The relationship between their characters also showed how love can look different across generations. (Photo: Instagram)

Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara openly dealt with the subject of age-gap marriages. Sanjay and Smriti with over 20 years between them played characters who fall in love despite society’s disapproval. The show focused on things like loneliness, emotional maturity and to love someone openly despite a huge age gap. While many praised the show for being different, others felt that it normalised large age gaps in relationships with ease. (Photo: Instagram)

In Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Ronit Roy’s Mr. Bajaj and Shweta Tiwari’s Prerna had about a 15-year age difference. Yet, their on-screen pairing turned out to be one of TV’s most iconic. Viewers slowly accepted their chemistry because Ronit brought intensity to the role while Shweta gave it emotional depth. Their relationship added new twists to the story and became an iconic part of Indian television. (Photo: Instagram)

In Ufff… Ye Love Hai Mushkil, Shabir and Ashi played characters caught in a love-hate relationship. With a 20-year real-life gap their pairing left audiences divided. Some people enjoyed the drama while others felt the couple did not look natural together. Many viewers pointed out that the difference in their life stages and on-screen presence made the match hard to believe. (Photo: Instagram)

Kasamh Se became popular, but it also drew criticism for casting 17-year-old Prachi opposite Ram Kapoor who was in his 30s. The age gap between the two was hard to ignore, especially since Prachi was still a teenager at the time. While viewers loved their on-screen chemistry many questioned if such casting choices were fair. The debate mainly centered on whether young girls should be shown in romantic roles with much older men. (Photo: Instagram)

In Sasural Simar Ka, Avika Gor was paired with Manish Raisinghan, who was 18 years older than her. Even though fans appreciated their on-screen chemistry, their age gap quickly became a talking point online. Many viewers still remembered Avika for her child roles, which made it harder for them to accept her in a romantic serial. (Photo: Instagram)

Iqbal Khan and Rachana Mistry’s pairing also brought up discussions about their age gap in television show Na Umra Ki Seema Ho. Iqbal, being much older, made some viewers question whether such casting choices promote unhealthy patterns in TV romances. However, loyal fans praised their acting and enjoyed watching them together. (Photo: Instagram)

In Imlie, Sumbul Touqeer Khan was paired opposite Gashmeer Mahajani who at the time was only 14 years older. While their love story in the show explored mature themes, their real-life age gap however made many viewers uncomfortable. Sumbul was still in her teens when the show began, which added to the criticism. Despite this the show received a lot of love and followed immense popularity. (Photo: Instagram)