The audience ultimately judges the characters and performances on screen—not the age difference, M.S. Raju opined
Kamal Haasan and Trisha in Thug Life (Photo: X)
With social media buzzing over the age disparity between lead actors and their significantly younger female co-stars, veteran producer M.S. Raju has weighed in on the controversy, asserting that such debates do little to affect an actor’s stardom or a film’s success.
“Social media comments, trolls and memes come and go. This time, they're targeting senior heroes working with much younger heroines. But such trends can’t be stopped,” says Raju. “These criticisms don’t impact the stardom of either the hero or the heroine if the script is strong. The audience ultimately judges the characters and performances on screen—not the age difference.”
Just two days ago, Tamil cinema found itself at the center of a storm. Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life trailer, which features romantic sequences with actresses Abhirami and Trisha—who are 29 and 28 years younger than him respectively—ignited heated debate online. Many questioned the creative choices, but Raju defended the vision. “Love has no age. A kiss is a form of expressing love, and in this case, the scenes are directed by Mani Ratnam, a master of aesthetic filmmaking. Nothing in his work goes beyond artistic boundaries,” he adds.
Telugu cinema has faced similar scrutiny. Stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Ravi Teja have all been at the receiving end of online backlash. During Bholaa Shankar’s release, a scene featuring Chiranjeevi and Sreemukhi drew criticism. In Mr. Bachchan, romantic dance sequences between Ravi Teja and Bhagyashree Borse were called out for their intimacy. Balakrishna, too, came under fire for his dance steps with Urvashi Rautela in Daaku Maharaj, which were labeled as "vulgar" by some viewers.
Even Bollywood is not immune. Salman Khan was trolled for his romantic scenes with Rashmika Mandanna in Sikandar. In response, he cheekily remarked that one day he might end up working with Rashmika's daughter, hinting at how such criticism often borders on absurdity.
“Senior Telugu stars working with younger actresses isn’t new—it dates back to the times of legends like NTR and ANR,” Raju explains. “The trend continued with actors like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, and Venkatesh. As long as the audience accepts the pairing and the film delivers, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
He further argues that this isn't unique to Indian cinema. “Even in Hollywood, top stars in their 60s continue to work with younger female leads and indulge in romantic scenes. Hence, the focus should remain on storytelling and performance, not on age. Outside of social media, south actors continue to enjoy success and appreciation from fans,” he concludes.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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