Kamal-Trisha’s Romance Raises Eyebrows
Netizens feel when the age gap is too much, it’s a bit odd
Thug Life marks the much-awaited comeback of actor-director duo Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, 35 years after their iconic collaboration in Nayakan (1987). The trailer was met with excitement by fans eager for a gripping action thriller. But criticism soon followed, as many expressed discomfort over the 72-year-old Kamal Haasan romancing Trisha, who is 30 years his junior.
Netizens took to Reddit and social media to voice their displeasure. One user wrote, “An old man romancing a young woman is not a problem as long as it’s addressed. An old man pretending to be young and romancing young girls is weird. Trisha is just three years older than his daughter Shruti Haasan.” Another questioned Mani Ratnam, saying, “We thought you would do better.”
Others, however, defended. One user argued, “There is nothing wrong with it, since the plot clearly shows an aged gangster having an affair with a younger woman. But yes, Abhirami and Kamal sharing a lip-lock with a 30-year age difference does seem odd.” Indian cinema has long repeated the trope of much older male leads romancing younger women. From Salman Khan with Rashmika Mandanna in Sikander to Akshay Kumar opposite Wamiqa Gabbi in Bhoot Bangla.
“The audience laps it up and has no problem. Didn’t Kamal romance a much younger Rani Mukerji in Hey Ram? Who else could they have cast opposite him in Thug Life? Most of his contemporaries are no longer active, and to sell the film, a popular name is needed,” says a publicist wryly.
