Film commentator Anmol Jamwal has repeatedly highlighted age gaps in certain movies, describing them as “not only numerically but visually baffling.” A recent post juxtaposing his past critiques of pairings in South Indian films against his positive comments on a Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone song from the film King has drawn sharp attention. Critics note he has also promoted Cocktail 2, which pairs Shahid Kapoor with significantly younger co-stars including Rashmika Mandanna, without similar scrutiny of the roughly 15-year age difference.
He is not the only commentator or journalist to be selective in criticism. Many media platforms, across the country, are guilty of describing one on-screen age difference as beautiful and another as cringe.
Supporters of consistent standards argue that on-screen age differences merit discussion regardless of the industry or star involved. Detractors of selective commentary say it undermines credibility when the same critic praises high-profile pairings while condemning others that look similar on paper.
In the case of the Ravi Teja-Sreeleela pairing in Dhamaka and Mass Jathara, the age difference was extremely palpable. Somehow, SRK and Deepika don't look like a bad pair. Nandamuri Balakrishna is criticized for romancing female actors much younger than him. So also Megastar Chiranjeevi. However, the likes of Thalapathy Vijay (who looks much younger for his age) and even 'Victory' Venkatesh aren't (despite age showing up).
