Hollywood, Bollywood, and the Changing Narrative on Age-Gap Relationships
A handful of releases — including “The Idea of You,” “Family Affair,” “Lonely Planet” and, now, “Babygirl” — have embraced narratives in which older women are romantically involved with younger men.Justine Goode / NBC News; A24 / Netflix / Universal / Amazon MGM
Age-gap relationships have long been a staple of storytelling in both Hollywood and Bollywood. But while Western cinema is beginning to reimagine these dynamics by celebrating older women with younger men, Bollywood still largely adheres to its traditional formula—where the man is significantly older, and the woman is often much younger, sometimes disturbingly so.
Hollywood’s Shift: Older Women, Younger Men
Over the past few years, Hollywood has seen a rise in films that center on relationships where an older woman is paired with a younger man. This year’s Marty Supreme, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothée Chalamet, is the latest in a string of movies embracing this theme. Films like The Idea of You (starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine), Family Affair (with Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron), and Babygirl (featuring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson) have all leaned into this dynamic.
Why the shift? Women are demanding better, more dynamic storytelling. As Robinne Lee, the author of The Idea of You, pointed out, audiences—particularly women—want to see female characters reclaim their sexuality, confidence, and autonomy in ways that break away from outdated societal expectations. These movies challenge the long-standing narrative that a woman’s romantic desirability fades with age while reinforcing that attraction and connection are about more than just youth.
This shift also reflects broader societal changes, where women are achieving financial and personal independence at unprecedented rates. More women are dating on their terms, and Hollywood is catching up by depicting relationships where older women are confident in what they want and unapologetic about who they love.
Additionally, these films often showcase the emotional intelligence and maturity of younger men, dispelling the myth that older men are inherently more stable partners. Audiences are seeing characters with genuine chemistry and emotional depth rather than relationships built solely on status or power dynamics.
And let’s not forget that Nicole Kidman has essentially turned this into her genre. From Family Affair to Babygirl, she’s been at the forefront of the Hollywood ‘Older Woman-Younger Man’ wave. At this point, if there’s a movie about a woman in her 50s finding love with a 20-something heartthrob, we just assume Kidman is in it!
A Look at the Stories Behind These Movies
Each of these films presents a different angle on age-gap relationships:
Gwyneth Paltrow, left, will return to film with a role in “Marty Supreme,” which also stars Timothée Chalamet, Dominik Bindi, Getty Images; Amy Sussman, Getty Images
Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron in 'A Family Affair'
©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Marty Supreme (Gwyneth Paltrow & Timothée Chalamet): This film follows a powerful older woman guiding a young prodigy through the complexities of fame and self-discovery. Their relationship, which starts as mentorship, takes a turn into deeper emotional and romantic territory, forcing them both to confront societal judgment and personal insecurities.
The Idea of You (Anne Hathaway & Nicholas Galitzine): This adaptation of Robinne Lee’s novel follows a 40-year-old single mother who falls for a 24-year-old pop star. The film explores themes of self-worth, media scrutiny, and how women’s desirability is often unfairly judged through a different lens than men’s.
Family Affair (Nicole Kidman & Zac Efron): A more comedic take, this movie centers on a woman who unexpectedly falls for her daughter’s boss, leading to both hilarious and heartfelt complications.
Babygirl (Nicole Kidman & Harris Dickinson): A dramatic exploration of love and power, this film delves into an unexpected romance between a successful older woman and a young man still finding his place in the world. Unlike some of the lighter entries in this trend, Babygirl tackles the emotional and psychological complexities of such relationships.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Renée Zellweger & Leo Woodall): The latest installment in the Bridget Jones saga sees Bridget navigating life as a single mother while embarking on a relationship with a much younger man. The film, which playfully embraces its age-gap dynamic, highlights the joys and challenges of rediscovering love later in life. As always, Bridget’s journey is filled with humor, heart, and self-reflection.
And let’s not forget that Nicole Kidman has essentially turned this into her genre. From Family Affair to Babygirl, she’s been at the forefront of the Hollywood ‘Older Woman-Younger Man’ wave. At this point, if there’s a movie about a woman in her 50s finding love with a 20-something heartthrob, we just assume Kidman is in it!
Bollywood’s Double Standard: The Aging Hero and the Young Heroine
Meanwhile, Bollywood has yet to fully embrace this shift. Instead, the industry continues to churn out films where 50-something male superstars romance 20-something actresses. Whether it’s Shah Rukh Khan opposite Anushka Sharma in Jab Harry Met Sejal, Salman Khan with Disha Patani in Bharat, or Akshay Kumar with Kriti Sanon in Bachchan Pandey, the trend persists. The justification? These men are seen as 'evergreen' while women are often pushed into maternal roles after a certain age.
Even when older women are paired with younger men in Bollywood, the stories tend to be framed as outlandish or comedic rather than genuine explorations of love. Case in point: Cheeni Kum (2007), which saw Amitabh Bachchan (then in his 60s) romancing Tabu, who was in her 30s, still treated the age gap as a novelty rather than a norm.
Bollywood’s refusal to challenge this narrative also influences South Asian society, where women are still expected to marry older or at least the same age as their male counterparts. The portrayal of significantly older men with younger women reinforces outdated ideas about male dominance, maturity, and a woman’s ‘expiry date’ when it comes to love and marriage.
What This Means for Desi Daters
For South Asians navigating dating and relationships, these cinematic portrayals matter. Bollywood continues to reinforce the idea that a man can ‘age like fine wine’ while a woman must marry young or be deemed past her prime. Hollywood, however, is helping to normalize relationships where a woman is just as free to date across age brackets without judgment.
In the real world, more South Asian women are prioritizing career growth, travel, and personal development before settling down. This means they may be dating younger men who are emotionally available, respectful, and open to a modern partnership dynamic. But deeply ingrained cultural biases still make it difficult for these relationships to gain acceptance in Desi communities.
As more South Asian singles expand their dating preferences, they may find that age is not the most important factor in compatibility—shared values, emotional connection, and mutual respect are. This shift in Hollywood can serve as inspiration for Desi daters to rethink rigid expectations about age and relationships.
The Future of Age-Gap Love Stories
Here's what older women in relationships with younger men have to say. (Source: Malaika Arora/Nick Jonas/Gauahar Khan/Instagram; designed by Gargi Singh)
Will Bollywood ever catch up? Perhaps. But as long as aging male actors continue to hold all the power in the industry, it will likely be some time before we see a high-profile Bollywood film where a middle-aged woman romances a younger man without it being played for laughs.
That said, there are small signs of progress. Some independent films and web series have started exploring unconventional relationships, hinting that change may be on the horizon. But for now, mainstream Bollywood remains deeply entrenched in its age-old formulas.
In the meantime, South Asians can take cues from Hollywood’s evolving landscape and redefine what age, love, and relationships look like in their own lives—without waiting for Bollywood’s permission. Whether it’s an older woman with a younger man or simply a relationship that defies rigid social expectations, the most important thing is that people find happiness and fulfillment on their own terms.
