It happens often in Bollywood films where the actress playing the mother of the hero is actually closer in age to him than the heroine of the movie. One reddit user, pointed out Shah Rukh Khan has also played son to a veteran actress who was closer in age to him than many of his love interests, namely Deepika Padukone, whom King Khan last romanced in Pathaan! Can you guess who that veteran actress is?

It is none other than Jaya Bachchan. There is a surprising age gap between Jaya Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Jaya Bachchan, at 75 years old, is actually closer in age to Shah Rukh Khan, who is 57, than Shah Rukh is to his frequent on-screen love interest, Deepika Padukone, who is 37.

The revelation of Shah Rukh Khan having a smaller age gap with Jaya Bachchan than with Deepika was shared by a Reddit user on the BollyBlindsNGossip sub-reddit, and it has sparked discussions and reactions among fans.

Some people find it uncomfortable to realize that an actor (Shah Rukh Khan in this case) playing the role of a son to another actor is actually closer in age to them than the ones they romance on-screen. Others argue that it’s just acting and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

‘This year, [Shah Rukh Khan] turns 58, which is the same age that Amitabh Bachchan was in Mohabbatein,’ wrote one user.

’20 years difference between [Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika]. It’s like your manager is romancing the intern fresh out of college,’ commented another user.

‘You know they’re actors right? They’re not actually romancing one another. They’re literally doing a job. Blame our desi society that continue to worship these middle/late age actors but refuse to accept an actress aging. Check comments of any post of older actress and people will be making fun of their weight, greys or wrinkles. Meanwhile bhAi is bHAi,’ said one user.

This issue brings to light the age bias and gender disparities prevalent in the film industry, where older male actors often portray romantic partners to much younger female actors. Such portrayals often limit opportunities for actresses closer to the male actor’s age.

This phenomenon is not limited to the Indian film industry but also exists in Hollywood and raises discussions about the need for more diverse and balanced representations in the entertainment world.