Alpha: Why can't Alia Bhatt play an 18-year old at 33 if Aamir Khan can play a 22-year old at 44 in '3 idiots?'

Ever since Alia Bhatt's Alpha teaser has dropped on the internet, social media users are perturbed by the fact that a 33-year old actress is playing the role of an 18-year girl. For decades, male actors have played characters half their age and barely anyone bat an eyelid. Ageism in Bollywood affects women more than it impacts men.

There have been so many male actors who have played characters half their age. The recent examples can be Salman Khan in Bharat and Dabangg 3, Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan and Dunki. And Aamir Khan going 22 at 44 in the 2009 blockbuster 3 idiots. We also have copious examples of heroes romancing actresses more than half their age. And here we get to see more names than the ones above.

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But when Alia Bhatt is given the role of an 18-year agent in her upcoming spy thriller Alpha at the age of 33, people seem to be perturbed by the casting decision. Once they see what lies beneath and what the entire iceberg looks like, they may get to scrutinize the film with more precision. Right now, it feels like empty trolling to gratify their own ends. Alpha also has Sharvari, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. The film could be a fair departure from the other movies we have seen in the spy universe.

Ageism issues in Bollywood

There are so many actresses from the 90s who have now transitioned into character roles, or being seen in web series. Whereas the actors continue to play leading men, with a new face opposite of them every now and then. Does this have to do with the sexism in the Hindi film industry or the choice of the audiences? This is a question that may take time to be answered.