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News18
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ranveer Singh Steps Out In Dhurandhar Look Amid Sara Arjun Age-Gap Row
Last Updated: Ranveer Singh appears in his Dhurandhar avatar amid backlash over age gap with co-star Sara Arjun. Paps cheer, internet remains divided. Ranveer Singh made his first public appearance since the release of the much-talked-about Dhurandhar teaser, stepping out in full character at the Mumbai airport. Dressed in his onscreen avatar, the actor looked intense in a head-to-toe black outfit—leather jacket, black tee, pants, a silver chain, dark shades, and a black cap. His rugged look was completed with long hair, a full-grown beard, and a styled moustache, staying completely in sync with his feral, gritty image in the film. As soon as Ranveer walked out, paparazzi began chanting, 'Blockbuster movie!" and 'Love the look, Baba!" — clearly impressed by the transformation. Fans echoed similar excitement online, celebrating the return of the actor in a never-seen-before avatar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) However, it wasn't all praise. Ranveer's latest teaser has also stirred major debate, not for the action-packed visuals or the character's intensity, but for his onscreen romantic pairing with 20-year-old actress Sara Arjun. The film, reportedly shot two years ago, means Sara would've been just 18 at the time of filming, while Ranveer was 38. The Internet's reaction was swift and sharp. One user questioned, 'Can you imagine a 40-year-old man romancing an 18-year-old girl in 2024?" Another added, 'This isn't casting. It's conditioning." The outrage mirrors recent backlash seen with age-gap pairings in films like Sikandar (Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna) and Tiku Weds Sheru (Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur). Despite the criticism, Ranveer has remained silent on the matter. His latest airport appearance seems to suggest he's focused on the work and letting the performance do the talking. Sara Arjun, best known for her breakout as a child artist in Deiva Thirumagal, has had a strong acting career from a young age, recently playing young Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan. But her casting opposite Ranveer has reignited an old Bollywood debate. First Published:
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar co-star Sara Arjun once played alongside Salman Khan in Jai Ho; take a look
Ranveer Singh, 40, might be leading the charge in the upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar, but all eyes are on his co-star Sara Arjun — and for good reason. The 18-year-old actor, who will be seen sharing the screen with Ranveer for the first time, isn't exactly a newcomer. In fact, she's acted opposite another Bollywood giant, Salman Khan, long before Dhurandhar was even imagined. Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun and Salman Khan Yes, you read that right. Sara Arjun played the role of a schoolgirl in Jai Ho (2014), featuring Salman Khan in the lead. At the time, she was only a child, but already making waves in both Bollywood and the South film industries. Now, over a decade later, she's back in the spotlight, and this time, she's the leading lady. From child prodigy to pan-India performer Born on June 18, 2005, Sara Arjun is the daughter of actor Raj Arjun, known for Secret Superstar. By the time she was six, Sara had already starred in over 100 commercials. Her big break came in the Tamil film Deiva Thirumagal (2011), where she played the daughter of a mentally challenged father. She then went on to deliver powerful performances in Saivam (2014), Ek Thi Daayan (2013), Chithirayil Nilachoru (2013), and the acclaimed anthology Sillu Karuppatti (2019). More recently, audiences saw her portraying a younger version of Aishwarya Rai's character in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2023). Dhurandhar: A big debut (again) Directed by Aditya Dhar (Uri: The Surgical Strike), Dhurandhar is being touted as one of the biggest action spectacles of 2025. Unveiled by Jio Studios and B62 Studios on Ranveer Singh's birthday, the film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. The high-octane first look is set to a pulsating soundtrack by Shashwat, featuring vocals by Jasmine Sandlas and a special collaboration with genre-blending artist Hanumankind. But while the film's visuals are grabbing attention, so is the casting. Sara's pairing with Ranveer Singh — who is nearly 20 years her senior — has raised eyebrows online. Some netizens have expressed surprise at the age gap, sparking a familiar conversation in Bollywood about onscreen pairings.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Ranveer Singh And Sara Arjun's 20-Year Age Gap In Dhurandhar Days After Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Row: What's New, Really?
New Delhi: Because Bollywood's obsession with youth isn't ageing well. It starts with a bang. And a facepalm. Ranveer Singh turned 40 on Sunday (July 6). He dropped the first look of his film Dhurandhar. And the Internet... combusted. Not because of the gritty action visuals. Not because of Singh's furious, blood-soaked glare. But because his onscreen love interest is Sara Arjun, an actress two decades younger, who many still remember as a child artist from Tamil cinema. The Internet's math was swift and scathing: If Dhurandhar was filmed two years ago (which it was), Sara would've been 18 at the time. The backlash? Immediate. "Can you imagine a 40-year-old man romancing an 18-year-old girl in 2024? Only in Bollywood," one user wrote. Another posted a still of the two actors side by side with the caption: "This is not casting. It's conditioning." And just like that, Singh's birthday post gave way to Bollywood's most uncomfortable, evergreen conversation: the age-gap debate. Or as many call it now, the cinematic curse of eternal youth but only for men. The ' Dhurandhar ' Discomfort The first look teaser of Dhurandhar had everything going for it on paper. Stylised violence. Ranveer in a feral, never-seen-before avatar. And a mysterious storyline shrouded in grit. But nothing captured the public imagination quite like the 20-year age gap between its leads. Sara Arjun, now 20, has acted in films since the age of 5. Her breakout role was in Deiva Thirumagal (2011) and she also portrayed young Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan. To many, she is still the girl who tugged at heartstrings in emotional scenes with Vikram and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. And now she's romancing Singh, one of Bollywood's biggest stars? For many viewers, this wasn't casting, it was cognitive dissonance. Love In The Time Of Midlife Crisis But Dhurandhar is hardly the first film to trigger this visceral reaction. Salman Khan (59) and Rashmika Mandanna (28) in Sikandar sparked similar outrage, more so when reports claimed Rashmika's real-life father is younger than Salman. During promotions, Salman brushed off concerns with his signature smirk: "If the heroine and her father don't have a problem, why do you?" And just like that, a 31-year age gap was reduced to punchline politics. Kamal Haasan (70) kisses 42-year-old Abirami in Thug Life? X (formerly Twitter) meltdown. Shah Rukh Khan (then 42) romances 21-year-old Deepika in Om Shanti Om? Box office hit, but still made people shift in their seats. Nawazuddin Siddiqui (48) locking lips with Avneet Kaur (21) in Tiku Weds Sheru? That one was universally slammed. And let's not forget Akshay Kumar cast opposite Manushi Chhillar in Prithviraj (he's 54, she's 24), Sara Ali Khan in Atrangi Re and Kriti Sanon in Housefull 4. The running theme? Leading men in their 40s, 50s and even 60s romancing women half their age. Because in Bollywood, male stardom doesn't age, it only gets a younger co-star. When Women Tried To Flip The Script... But Failed But flip the script, and suddenly, it's not charming, it's "desperate." Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was crucified (online) for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, where she played a sultry muse to a then 33-year-old Ranbir Kapoor, while she was 42. Trolls questioned her motherhood, her marriage, and her "dignity". Some called her "too old to be sexy." Rani Mukerji in Dil Bole Hadippa with Shahid Kapoor? Chemistry "off." Kareena Kapoor in Ki & Ka with five-year-younger Arjun Kapoor? "Cringe." Priyanka Chopra romancing Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in Gunday? "Mismatched." Even Katrina Kaif with a younger Aditya Roy Kapur in Fitoor raised eyebrows, despite a mere two-year gap. That's the thing: When older women romance younger men, it's labelled unrealistic. But when a 64-year-old Mohanlal romances a 30-something actress, it's... "mass appeal." The Internet Has Had Enough The reaction to Dhurandhar is just the latest in what now feels like an annual festival of fury. Social media is flooded with memes, Reddit threads and viral tweets calling out Bollywood's "fountain of youth" bias for men. One viral post read: "Bollywood logic: 40-year-old men fall in love, 40-year-old women fall off the casting list." Another: "When a 70-year-old actress kisses a 40-year-old actor in a trailer, we'll call it 'magic'. Until then, miss us with the double standards." The collective sentiment? The industry isn't aging, just its excuses. Romance Is Ageless (Unless You're A Woman) Younger male actors like Vicky Kaushal, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi have shown interest in working opposite older actresses. Yet the scripts rarely exist. Why? Kajol, in an interview with The Lallantop, addressed this very imbalance, "This kind of discrimination has been acceptable for so long. Take Rajni (Rajinikanth) sir or any of the heroes, there isn't a single actor who hasn't worked with heroines 30 years younger than them. No one's asked: Should this still be happening? We only think about what will sell. Filmmaking is a business." Ratna Pathak Shah, as always, didn't mince words, "When male actors are not ashamed to romance actresses who are younger than their daughters, what should I say?" Atul Mongia, a veteran acting coach and casting director, said, "Women are objectified in commercial cinema. Once they reach a certain age or get married and have children-they're no longer seen as women of desire." Actress Manisha Koirala, now 54, recently confessed that she is routinely excluded from projects due to her age. And remember Ridhi Dogra? She played Shah Rukh Khan's mother in Jawan, despite being 19 years younger than him. So... Is Age Really Just A Number? In theory, yes. In practice? Not in Bollywood. Age-gap relationships can be real, tender, messy and moving. But when they become the industry's default, while older women get relegated to playing mothers and martyrs, it's time to reassess not just who we put on screen but why. The worst part? Audiences are changing but the industry refuses to catch up. From Dhurandhar, Thug Life to Sikandar, viewers are no longer buying the idea that a 20-something woman would fall head over heels for a man twice her age, especially when there's no compelling narrative reason for it. And that's the real tragedy. It's not the age gap that offends, it's the laziness. Cinema reflects society, but it also shapes it. And when the only stories being told are those where older men are always desirable and older women are always disposable, what message are we really sending? As Dhurandhar gears up for release, the question isn't just whether the film will be a hit. The question is whether the audience is finally tired of this outdated fantasy and whether Bollywood is ready to grow up. Until then, the punchlines may land. But not always in the right place.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Who is Sara Arjun, 20-year-old romancing Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar?
Sara Arjun, 20, is a name that's been trending on social media platforms, thanks to Ranveer Singh's latest 'Dhurandhar' first look that released on July 6. As she is paired opposite Ranveer Singh, 40, in the film, a section of people pointed out the obvious 20-year age-gap between the two. The makers of 'Dhurandhar' and the actors are yet to respond to the IS SARA ARJUN?Sara Arjun is the daughter of actor Raj Arjun. She started her career as a child artiste and appeared in many commercials and a Hindi short film before she turned six years 2010, she was signed on as one of the leads in Chiyaan Vikram-starrer 'Deiva Thirumagal', after director AL Vijay spotted her in one of the commercials. In the movie, Sara played the role of a six-year-old daughter to a doting father, who is mentally challenged. 'Deiva Thirumagal' still remains a classic and the climax scene featuring Sara and Vikram in court with the lilting violin in the background made many weep. But, before 'Deiva Thirumagal', she made her debut with the Hindi film, '404', in which she played Sara. She then followed it up with roles in 'Ek Thi Daayan', Salman Khan's Jai Ho', and other notable films. In 2014, she returned to Tamil cinema with director AL Vijay's 'Saivam', another emotional family drama. After 'Saivam', she appeared in Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam films, which failed to fetch her the recognition that her initial films 2019, he acted in two big Hindi films - 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga' and 'Saand Ki Aankh' and earned her name. After a long time, she returned to Tamil cinema with director Halitha Shameem's 'Sillu Karuppati', in which she was one of the leads in one of the episodes of an anthology. She then played memorable roles in 'Ajeeb Daastaans' and 'Toolsidad Junior'.In 2022, director Mani Ratnam cast Sara Arjun as young Nandini (older version played by Aishwarya Rai) in his ambitious 'Ponniyin Selvan'. Her role in the film was matured, and her character required her to portray young love, longing and heartbreak. 'DHURANDHAR' - HER BIG BREAK?Sara Arjun landed the biggest film of her career when she signed director Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar' opposite Ranveer Singh. As the first look was released on Singh's birthday on July 6, she managed to pique everyone's interest with her presence and age gap. While Sara Arjun's role has been kept under wraps, a section of people believe that the makers are likely to have a solid justification for the 20-year age-gap, considering that the film is about a spy in an enemy Arjun's casting and the age-gap row might die a slow death (or not) once the film hits theatres.'Dhurandhar' will release in theatres on December 5.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dhurandhar first look: Ranveer Singh and Sara Arjun's 20-year age gap sparks debate, netizens say ‘It's giving dad-daughter vibes'
Fans received a birthday treat on Ranveer Singh 's 40th birthday as the much-anticipated first look video of his upcoming action-thriller Dhurandhar dropped online. The stylish first look not only revealed the film's December 5, 2025 release date but also introduced the leading lady, 20-year-old Tamil actor Sara Arjun , opposite Ranveer . While the video generated buzz for its slick visuals and high-stakes spy-action narrative, it also triggered a wave of online discussion over the 20-year age gap between the lead actors. Social media reacts: It's giving dad-daughter vibes' Though the first look revealed little about the plot or the characters' dynamics, many users quickly voiced concern over the possibility of a romantic pairing between Ranveer and Sara. 'Sara Arjun was 18 when Dhurandhar was being filmed,' a Reddit user on the BollyBlindsNGossip subreddit noted, sharing a screenshot from the teaser. Another comment read, 'It's giving me an ick... even though she's 18 she looks like she's in mid-teen years... it's giving dad-daughter vibes and no chemistry!!' A user added, 'I hope they're not paired opposite each other romantically... otherwise, ugh!' While another remarked, 'I hope it's part of some mission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Comment se préparer à l'avenir de l'investissement eToro Market Updates Lire la suite Undo Again, I won't be surprised if they are romancing. Almost all the actresses debuted in their teens against actors twice their age.' Others urge patience: 'Don't judge until the film is out' However, several users also came to the film's defense, urging others not to jump to conclusions. 'The casting looks intentional. Unless you watch it, there is no way to confirm if this is a romantic pairing. Maybe stop imaginary run-ups on theories and bash a movie that has a lot of hard work put into it,' one Redditor wrote. Another echoed the sentiment, 'Let us at least wait for the movie to release. If it doesn't fit into the story, then let's criticise.' 'Dhurandhar' Teaser Drops on Ranveer's 40th Birthday- Fierce New Avatar Revealed! Who is Sara Arjun? Born on June 18, 2005, Sara Arjun began her career as a toddler in television commercials. She gained widespread acclaim for her performance in the 2011 Tamil film Deiva Thirumagal, and has since acted in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. Her credits include Ek Thi Daayan, Jazbaa, Saivam, and Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan duology. Directed by Uri: The Surgical Strike filmmaker Aditya Dhar , Dhurandhar promises to be a high-octane spy thriller that unravels the untold stories of India's unsung heroes. Apart from Ranveer and Sara, the ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt , R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna , and Arjun Rampal .
