Salman Khan Responds to 31-Year Age Gap with Rashmika Mandanna in Sikandar
Bollywood actor Salman Khan recently addressed the 31-year age gap between him and his Sikandar co-star, Rashmika Mandanna, at the film’s press event. Salman Khan is used to being in the spotlight, and with the upcoming release of Sikandar this Eid, there’s plenty of attention on the film. One of the main topics being discussed is the 31-year age gap between him and his co-star, Rashmika Mandanna. At a recent press event, Salman addressed this issue in his usual way.
Salman Khan, never one to shy away from controversy, responded to the age gap talk by saying, “They say there’s a 31-year difference between the heroine and me. If the heroine doesn’t have any problem, or her father doesn’t have any problem, then why should anyone else?”
But he didn’t stop there. He further said that when she (Rashmika Mandanna) gets married, has a daughter and turn to be a big star, they will still work together after getting her mom’s permission. Salman Khan also praised Rashmika Mandanna’s hard work. He shared how impressed he was with her dedication, which reminded him of his younger self. Rashmika Mandanna would finish her work for Pushpa 2 at 7 p.m., then come to shoot Sikandar at 9 p.m. and work until 6:30 a.m. Despite working through an injury and breaking her leg, she kept going without missing a single day. Salman Khan admired her commitment and said it made their on-screen chemistry feel real.
Sikandar is going to release on March 30, just in time for Eid. The film is directed by a talented filmmaker and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. With Salman Khan leading the cast, Sikandar is expected to be a big hit. While the age gap with Rashmika is getting a lot of attention, Salman Khan’s comments show he’s more focused on the quality of the work than the controversy.
This isn’t the first time Salman has broken from tradition. In 2023, his movie Tiger 3 was released on a Sunday during Diwali, surprising some in the industry. While some experts questioned the timing, Salman Khan’s track record shows that he knows how to create excitement, no matter when his movies come out. Along with Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, Sikandar also stars Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, and Sharman Joshi, adding more star power to the film. With these experienced actors and new faces, Sikandar is sure to draw a lot more attention from the audience leading up to its release.
The Making of Sikandar:
In February 2024, it was announced that Salman Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala would reunite for a film, their first joint project in nearly ten years since Kick (2014). The film, titled Sikandar, quickly became a hot topic, especially because it’s the first time Salman Khan is working with director A.R. Murugadoss.
Salman Khan officially revealed the project on his social media during Eid al-Fitr in April 2024, sharing his enthusiasm about teaming up with Murugadoss and Nadiadwala once again. Salman Khan officially revealed the project on his social media during Eid al-Fitr in April 2024, sharing his enthusiasm about teaming up with Murugadoss and Nadiadwala once again.
Filming was initially planned to take place in various stunning locations across Europe, including Portugal, adding an international flair to the film.
However, the production faced a delay due to Murugadoss’ commitments to another film, Madharasi (2025). Despite the schedule conflicts, Murugadoss managed to work on both films, finishing a part of Madharasi before shifting his full attention to Sikandar in June 2024.