Sikander -Another tale where our protagonists refuse to mature!

Ever wonder why our favorite leading men seem to defy the laws of nature? It’s like they’ve discovered the fountain of youth, but instead of water, it’s filled with expensive face creams and a strict diet of kale smoothies and regret!

Why is it that Salman Khan who is nearly 60 decides to be brave enough to start romancing a 20 something actress in a big budget mainstream Hindi movie?

Is there a subtle confidence that his fans, who have been following him through his 30+ year career, are still swooning over him? Truth be told, those fans who once melted at his charm in Maine Pyaar Kiya are now sitting on the ugly side of 40, likely debating whether to invest in anti-aging cream or just embrace their “vintage” status! They are ready to see their favorite stars grow old, show a grey hair or two and save the day for all of us by making films about some real-world issues even if the solution come in the way of a Bollywood style ‘Dhishoom’.

The choice of the young Rashmika Mandana is surely a bold one—like wearing socks with sandals at a fashion show! If she’s the bait to reel in the Gen Z crowd, I’m not entirely convinced; even their young stomachs might struggle to digest this love story between the fine wine that is Salman and the bubbly seltzer that is Rashmika. It’s like pairing a vintage Cabernet with a fizzy soda. For the rest of us who grew up watching the magic of movies in the 90s and 2000s, a pairing between Salman and, say, a Madhuri seems like a fair choice. I mean, come on! If the heroes want to feel young, they should do it without running a marathon away from their real age. Or they can embrace the wisdom of their years, hang up their boots, and pass the sword to the next young 40-something hero—because let’s face it, at this rate, they’ll need a GPS to find their age!

Hollywood seems to be doing a better job at writing scripts that suit actors and actresses of different age groups. You don’t see a Will Smith or a Mark Ruffalo romancing younglings on the big screen! Is it not time to explore different subjects other than romance as the main theme?

The Indian audience is savvy enough to appreciate a different viewpoint—even the rickshaw puller, who probably has more life wisdom than half the characters in those romance flicks! So let’s give them something to chew on, like a plot twist where the rickshaw puller ends up becoming the next big Bollywood star. Now that’s a story worth telling!