R Madhavan: Era of older heroes romancing younger heroines has ended

R Madhavan is known for choosing stories that challenge convention, and with his upcoming Netflix film Aap Jaisa Koi, he's doing just that—both on screen and off. As he promotes the film, Madhavan is also sparking an important conversation about how Bollywood is finally evolving when it comes to romance.

In an interview with India Today, Madhavan noted a clear shift in the way love stories are being portrayed on screen—especially regarding the once-common trend of pairing significantly older male actors with much younger heroines. He pointed out that audiences have become more vocal in their criticism of such mismatched pairings, prompting a change in the industry. According to him, most leading men now recognize that the era of playing decades younger to romance much younger actresses is behind them.Calling the shift inevitable, the actor added that such mismatched pairings are no longer being accepted by audiences. He noted that the trend has largely come to a halt, and filmmakers now need to be more thoughtful in portraying age-appropriate romance. If older actors are cast in romantic roles, he emphasized, it must be done with sensitivity and realism.Still, he acknowledged that the shift isn’t about following a trend—it’s about listening to the audience.

He explained that if viewers aren’t connecting with certain portrayals, it’s a clear sign the approach isn’t working. For him, storytelling must evolve with the audience's expectations, and ignoring their feedback could leave filmmakers and actors out of touch, making films that fail to resonate or find an audience.While discussing Aap Jaisa Koi, R Madhavan hinted that the film delves much deeper than just an age-gap romance.

He shared that, while it may appear to be a simple love story on the surface, the narrative is rooted in contemporary themes and explores far more than just the age difference between the characters. According to him, that element is only a small facet of a much broader, layered story.Madhavan further shared that Aap Jaisa Koi dives into the emotional complexities of modern life—particularly the sense of isolation people feel even while surrounded by others. He praised director Vivek Soni's approach in capturing how loneliness is navigated in today's fast-paced world. Interestingly, he pointed out that smaller towns and villages often seem to strike a better emotional balance than cities, and the film explores that contrast through its central relationship—something that deeply appealed to him.Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, is slated for release on July 11.