Bollywood fans are abuzz as Peeping Moon confirmed that actor Ranveer Singh, 39, will be paired with 19-year-old Sara Arjun in Aditya Dhar's next espionage thriller. This has sparked widespread debate online, with many criticizing the large age gap between the two actors.

The yet-untitled project, which boasts an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Akshaye Khanna, is said to be a high-octane espionage thriller. Sara Arjun, who gained recognition for her role as the younger version of Aishwarya Rai's character in Ponniyin Selvan (2022-23), is reportedly set to play Ranveer's romantic interest. However, the significant 20-year age gap between the actors has not sat well with many fans.

Ranveer Singh to romance 19 year old Sara Arjun in Aditya Dhar film
byu/Rast987 inBollyBlindsNGossip

After the casting news was shared on Reddit’s BollyBlindsNGossip subreddit, fans took to the platform to voice their displeasure. One user noted the stark age difference, commenting, "She was 5 years old when Band Baaja Baaraat released," referring to Ranveer's debut in 2011. Another user expressed shock, writing, "Eww, 39-year-old romancing a teenager!?? How did they think this was okay?"

Others speculated on the dynamics in Bollywood, with one user suggesting, "I feel like these older actors relish the opportunity because outside of movies, it would face a lot of backlash, so they do it in the name of cinema." Meanwhile, another fan simply called the pairing “awkward.”

However, not everyone blamed Ranveer Singh for the controversial casting. "Ranveer didn't choose her as heroine, so no need to demonize him," one fan commented, defending the actor. Despite the divided opinions, the broader sentiment seemed to lament Bollywood's recurring trend of pairing young actresses with significantly older male stars.

Many fans also pointed out that such casting isn't new in the industry. "Don’t Deepika [Padukone] and Anushka [Sharma] both have a 20+ age gap with SRK? They both debuted when they were around 19-20," asked one fan, to which another replied, "Ya, that was also disgusting, and so is this."

Aditya Dhar’s upcoming film, which is expected to be a fast-paced thriller featuring Ranveer Singh as an intelligence officer on a mission in Pakistan, went into production in July, with shooting currently underway in Thailand. The film will later move to Mumbai and the UAE, with a projected release in the second half of 2025. The makers have yet to officially confirm Sara Arjun's involvement, though the young actor is reportedly looking to make her transition from child roles to leading parts in mainstream cinema.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the filmmakers will respond to the backlash surrounding the casting decision. For now, the internet remains divided on the topic, with many calling for more balanced casting choices in Bollywood.