The massive age gap between older male stars and their younger female co-stars has often been a topic of debates on social media, in which Salman Khan's name was brought up too. The Ek Tha Tiger addressed this at an event to launch the trailer of his new movie Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss.
The actor, 59, asked why social media has a problem with the age gap when his female co-star doesn't, specifically referring to Rashmika Mandanna, 28. "They say there is a 31-year difference between the heroine and me. If the heroine doesn't have any problem or the heroine's father doesn't have any problem, then why do you have a problem?"
Salman added that if Rashmika has a daughter and becomes a big star, he will work with her too, provided her mother permits.
Praising Mandanna's work ethic, the actor said the Chhaava actress reminds him of his younger self, adding that she worked on two films simultaneously — shuffling between the sets of Pushpa 2 and Sikandar. "She has given her best. She used to finish shooting of Pushpa 2 at 7 pm and would join us at 9 pm, and would work till 6.30 in the morning and go back to work on Pushpa 2. Then after breaking her leg, she continued shooting with us, and didn't cancel a single day of shoot. She reminds me a lot of younger me."
Mandanna is currently going through a dream run, having appeared in three blockbusters — Animal, Pushpa 2 and Chhaava.
