Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh is set to star in Aditya Dhar's next film, a big-budget project that also features prominent actors like Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Recently, reports have surfaced suggesting that former child actor Sara Arjun, 19, will make her debut as a mainstream heroine opposite Ranveer. However, the 20-year age gap between the two has sparked significant backlash among fans online.
While official confirmation regarding Sara's casting is still pending, a report from Peeping Moon claims she has been selected to play Ranveer's love interest. Known for her previous work in the South Indian film industry and for portraying the younger version of Aishwarya Rai's character in Ponniyin Selvan, Sara is poised to transition into a leading role after years of being recognized as a child actress.
The news, however, has not been well received. Many fans took to platforms like Reddit to express their discontent with the age difference. Comments ranged from disbelief to criticism of the film industry’s tendency to pair older male actors with significantly younger actresses. One user pointed out that Sara was just five years old when Ranveer debuted in Band Baaja Baaraat, while another lamented, “Eww 39-year-old romancing a teenager!?? How did they think this was okay?”
While some commenters acknowledged that Ranveer should not be blamed for the casting decision, the general sentiment was one of frustration over the recurring theme of large age gaps in Bollywood pairings. Comparisons were made to other well-known age disparities in the industry, with fans recalling that both Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma also have significant age differences with their co-stars.
As of now, the film's makers have not officially confirmed or denied Sara's involvement, but reports indicate that she has been actively seeking projects to facilitate her transition from child actor to leading lady.
As the news unfolds, it remains to be seen how the film's producers will navigate the conversation around age gaps in Bollywood and whether this pairing will impact audience reception.