Salman Khan on Age Gap Criticism: “People Have Made It Difficult to Work with Actresses Like Ananya, Janhvi”

At a recent press meet, Salman Khan addressed backlash over working with younger heroines, stating he offers them opportunity, not controversy.

March 28, 2025: At a press conference ahead of the release of Sikandar, Salman Khan candidly addressed the growing conversation around age gaps between male actors and their female co-stars. The Bollywood superstar, who stars opposite Rashmika Mandanna in the film, said that public scrutiny has made it difficult for him to work with younger actresses like Ananya Panday and Janhvi Kapoor.

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“If I want to work with Ananya or Janhvi, people have made it difficult for me because then they talk about the age gap,” Salman said, responding to a question about his casting choices. “I work with younger actors thinking it will give them a good opportunity, and I intend to continue doing so.”

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The topic gained traction when the Sikandar trailer dropped, revealing Salman’s on-screen pairing with Rashmika Mandanna, who is over three decades younger. Addressing this, Salman remarked, “People say there’s a 31-year age gap between me and the heroine. When the heroine and her father don’t have a problem, then why do you have a problem?”

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In a tongue-in-cheek comment, he even added, “In the future, when Rashmika gets married and has a daughter, I’ll work with her too.”

Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala in association with Salman Khan Films, Sikandar features an ensemble cast including Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, and Anjini Dhawan. The film is set to hit theatres on March 30, 2025, just in time for Eid.

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