Over the years, there have been a lot of discussions surrounding actors paired opposite younger actresses in films. In recent times, we’ve witnessed rare cases like Gunday, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ki & Ka where actresses are older than the male actors. In 2021, when these things continue to happen, there’s a constant debate around why it often happens but vice versa is still a rare phenomena. The conversation recently ignited around Lara Dutta who plays the role of Indira Gandhi in Akshay Kumar’s Bellbottom. The trailer left everyone quite surprised with Dutta’s makeover.

For unversed, Lara Dutta debuted in Bollywood in 2002 opposite Akshay Kumar in Andaaz. Cut to 2021, the actress who is seven years younger than Kumar, is playing a character older than him but the opportunity to play a distinct character is clearly is pretty interesting for the actress. Interestingly, Vaani Kapoor who is 21 years younger than Kumar is playing his wife. When asked Akshay Kumar,during Bellbottom promotions, why does it happen often with actresses but not actors, he says, “What’s wrong with that? It’s just a character. I remember Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee playing husband and wife in Bemishal. A few years later, Rakhiji played his mother in Shakti. Both the films did quite well.”