Bollywood icon Salman Khan, riding high on the buzz for his upcoming action-packed film Sikandar, recently shared candid thoughts on collaborating with younger actresses and the evolving dynamics of the industry. Speaking at a press event on March 26, 2025, the superstar didn’t shy away from addressing the chatter around age differences in his on-screen pairings, while also lamenting the decline of multi-starrer films.
Salman expressed a keen interest in working with rising stars like Ananya Panday and Janhvi Kapoor, but admitted that public scrutiny often throws a wrench in his plans. “I’d love to team up with Ananya or Janhvi, but people have made it tough. The moment I do, the age gap becomes the talk of the town,” he said with a hint of frustration. Yet, the 59-year-old actor remains undeterred, viewing such projects as a chance to nurture fresh talent. “For me, it’s about giving them a solid platform to shine. I’ll keep doing it, no matter what anyone says,” he added firmly.
The Tiger 3 star also took a trip down memory lane, reflecting on Bollywood’s golden era of ensemble casts. He revealed a failed attempt to pitch a multi-starrer to a filmmaker, only to be met with resistance from today’s actors. “I suggested a big ensemble project, but the current generation flat-out refused to share the screen. They’re too insecure,” Salman remarked. He contrasted this with his own experiences, saying, “Back in the day, we loved multi-cast films. It was about uniting our fanbases to make blockbusters. We’d spend months together, and by the end, we were buddies.”
The conversation inevitably turned to Sikandar, where Salman stars opposite Rashmika Mandanna, who is 31 years his junior. When quizzed about the age difference, he shrugged it off with characteristic nonchalance: “If the actress is cool with it, why should anyone else care?”
With Sikandar set to hit theaters later this year, Salman’s comments have sparked fresh debate about age dynamics in Bollywood and the industry’s reluctance to embrace collaborative storytelling. For now, the superstar remains focused on blending his larger-than-life persona with opportunities for the next generation—public perception be damned. Fans, meanwhile, are eagerly awaiting his next move, both on and off the screen.
