By Anil Merani: Celina Jaitly has been outspoken about ageism in Bollywood, particularly concerning women over 40. Her recent statements challenge the stereotype that women lose relevance after turning 39. However, her silence on the trope of older male actors romancing significantly younger female co-stars is jarring and highlights a broader issue in Bollywood’s gender dynamics. This pattern—where male stars like Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan, often in their 50s, are paired with actresses in their 20s or 30s—normalizes age disparities and reinforces the sexist narrative that male desirability endures while women’s “shelf life” is short.
Jaitly’s focus on ageism for women is a critical starting point, but it’s only one piece of a larger puzzle. The industry’s double standards, in which aging male actors remain bankable leads while women face pressure to stay youthful or transition to “character roles,” are deeply intertwined with these casting choices. For instance, data from Indian cinema studies shows that in 2019, over 60% of Bollywood’s top-grossing films featured male leads over 40 paired with female leads under 30, perpetuating a skewed power dynamic. Understanding these connections is essential for effectively addressing the issue.
Her advocacy could have a greater impact if it tackled these multi-faceted issues, including the industry’s reluctance to cast older women as romantic leads opposite younger men—a rarity in Bollywood compared to global cinema. That said, Jaitly’s recent return to Mumbai for work and her openness to new roles suggest she is navigating a complicated industry landscape, which may limit her ability to challenge norms broadly without risking pushback. It’s important to acknowledge the potential risks she faces in advocating for change in such an environment, as this highlights the complexities involved.
A broad approach is ncessary. This would require calling out casting practices, addressing pay gaps (top male stars often earn 10 to 20 times more than their female co-stars), and highlighting the lack of women in decision-making roles, such as directing or producing, where only 12% of Bollywood directors are women. While Jaitly’s voice could amplify these issues, her selective focus may reflect the practical constraints of an industry still resistant to systemic change. The urgency of addressing these issues cannot be overstated.
The post “Bollywood’s Gender Double Standards: The Unaddressed Gap in Celina Jaitly’s Fight for Women Over 40” appeared first on Tellyexpress.
