For a long time in Bollywood, age-appropriate casting has been on a downward slope. Older actors continue to play characters significantly younger than themselves.
Actors in their late 20s are cast as college students, those in their late 30s portray 20-somethings, and the gap keeps growing.
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In such a space, actor R. Madhavan recently expressed his gratitude in an interview for being given the opportunity to play an age-appropriate character, especially in a romantic role, after a very long time.
In his upcoming film Aap Jaisa Koi, Madhavan plays 42-year-old Shrirenu Tripathi, opposite Fatima Sana Shaikh as 32-year-old Madhu Bose.
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Reflecting on the love stories in his career, be it the ever-popular Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Tanu Weds Manu, or now Aap Jaisa Koi, Madhavan said that very few actors get the chance to portray characters that align with their real age in romantic narratives.
He shared how his journey with love stories began with Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, where he played a young man of that era and the way love was expressed at the time. His next, Tanu Weds Manu, was also an age-appropriate romantic story.
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Now, in Aap Jaisa Koi, he portrays a 40-something man falling in love for the first time and feeling like a teenager. First love always makes you feel like a teenager, Madhavan added.
It’s refreshing to see age-appropriate casting in a Bollywood film, along with a shift in storytelling that explores love at different stages of life.
Fans are excited to see Madhavan return to a romantic role after a long time. They can only hope this film meets, or exceeds, their expectations.
