Sharad Kelkar, a 46-year-old actor, is facing backlash for his on-screen romance with 19-year-old Niharika Choukse in the upcoming TV show “Tum Se Tum Tak”. The show’s promo, released on March 23, has sparked controversy due to the significant age gap between the lead actors.
In the promo, Sharad plays a successful businessman who is looking for love, while Niharika plays a simple girl from a humble background. The two accidentally bump into each other, and the voice-over hints at a possible romance between them.
However, the age difference between the actors has raised eyebrows, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment. “This is too much,” wrote one user. “19 and 46 is a huge gap. If they had kept it to 35, it would have been fine, but this pair doesn’t work for me.”
Another user questioned, “Why is the girl always younger and the boy always older? It’s always the same topic and argument.” Someone else asked, “How did Sharad agree to do this?” while another user wrote, “I didn’t expect this from Sharad. Why did he agree to do this?”
The backlash has been intense, with some users calling the storyline “disturbing” and “promoting wrong things”. One user even compared it to a real-life scenario, saying, “My father and sister have an age gap, what are they doing?”
The controversy surrounding the show has raised questions about the portrayal of age gaps in relationships on Indian television. While some argue that it’s just a storyline, others believe that it promotes unrealistic and problematic relationships.
The Age Gap Debate
The debate around age gaps in relationships is not new in India. Many TV shows and movies have featured couples with significant age differences, often with the man being older. However, the backlash against “Tum Se Tum Tak” suggests that audiences are becoming increasingly intolerant of such portrayals.
Some argue that age gaps can work in relationships, citing examples of successful couples with significant age differences. However, others believe that such relationships can be problematic, especially when there is a power imbalance.
As the controversy around “Tum Se Tum Tak” continues to grow, it remains to be seen how the show will address the age gap between the lead characters. Will it tackle the issue head-on, or will it gloss over it? Only time will tell.
What do you think?
Should TV shows and movies feature couples with significant age gaps? Do you think it’s realistic or problematic? Share your thoughts in the comments below.