Photographs: Reuters/Punit Paranjpe Shaikh Ayaz in Mumbai
Age is just a number, they say. Take the case of the 53-year-old Madonna whose new boyfriend is just 24! Come to think of it, when has age really come in the way of love?
Psychologically, age disparity in couples may create tension but there's a good reason why true romance overcomes all such differences and remains alive.
In Bollywood, marriages between older men and younger women have proved to be hugely successful. We take a look at couples who worked wide age differences to their advantage.
Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor
With wedding bells in a year's time for this couple, Saif's romance with Kareena came with heartbreaks from both sides. Just when everyone thought that this relationship won't be for keeps because of their age difference (he is 41, she's 30) and their wildly different personalities, they proved that love can withstand everything.
Their age gap hasn't affected their relationship which is going from strength to strength. There were, according to grapevine, some concerns in Kareena's family over his age and divorcee status but all that is in the past now.
Anurag Kashyap and Kalki Koechlin
When Kalki fell in love with Anurag on the sets of Dev D, she was at first apprehensive to get into a relationship with her director.
"He was older and already married and I didn't want to rush into things," she says of Anurag who's 10 years older than her.
All said and done, she did give in to Anurag's "moves" and married him in a traditional ceremony earlier this year. They bond over movies and books and are enjoying the "sense of togetherness."
"He was older and already married and I didn't want to rush into things," she says of Anurag who's 10 years older than her.
All said and done, she did give in to Anurag's "moves" and married him in a traditional ceremony earlier this year. They bond over movies and books and are enjoying the "sense of togetherness."
Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao
It didn't take much time for this superstar to find love after he parted ways with first wife Reena Dutta.
Although they are separated by nine years in age, Aamir and his director wife Kiran Rao give the aura of a mature couple very much in love and in command of their life.
Aamir has often said that Kiran has brought new dimensions to his personality and has introduced him to many new things, including world cinema.
Mr Perfectionist is not only a perfect husband but also a perfect father to Junaid and Ira. One hears the kids get along rather well with Kiran.
Although they are separated by nine years in age, Aamir and his director wife Kiran Rao give the aura of a mature couple very much in love and in command of their life.
Aamir has often said that Kiran has brought new dimensions to his personality and has introduced him to many new things, including world cinema.
Mr Perfectionist is not only a perfect husband but also a perfect father to Junaid and Ira. One hears the kids get along rather well with Kiran.
Sanjay Dutt and Maanyata
Maanyata once perfectly summed up their relationship, "I have always been mature and he has always been childish."
Maanyata's marriage to the much-older Sanjay (52, and father of a very grown up daughter) has weathered many storms including heated opposition from the Dutt family.
After the birth of their twins last year, it seems Mrs Dutt has finally found acceptance.
Maanyata's marriage to the much-older Sanjay (52, and father of a very grown up daughter) has weathered many storms including heated opposition from the Dutt family.
After the birth of their twins last year, it seems Mrs Dutt has finally found acceptance.
Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah
Strong-minded and highly independent, Naseeruddin, 61 and Ratna, 48, are the epitome of a thinking couple.
They are aging gracefully and seem to be at the peak of their career belting out one great performance after another. Once, when asked by a magazine if there's any scope for ego between them, he put it in his inimitable style, "There's never A Star is Born situation in our lives because we aren't in competition with each other."
They are aging gracefully and seem to be at the peak of their career belting out one great performance after another. Once, when asked by a magazine if there's any scope for ego between them, he put it in his inimitable style, "There's never A Star is Born situation in our lives because we aren't in competition with each other."
Kabir Bedi and Parveen Dusanj
He's suave and gentlemanly -- probably the reason why he attracts the attention of younger women.
At 65, Kabir is sprightly and wooed the much-younger Parveen who is of the same age as his daughter Pooja. Kabir is a hopeless romantic and believes in true love.
He once told Mid Day newspaper, "Age has nothing to do with how romantic an individual is. When you love someone, you want them to feel good, wanted. Romantic gestures are a way of expressing your feelings, and that does not depend on how old you are."
At 65, Kabir is sprightly and wooed the much-younger Parveen who is of the same age as his daughter Pooja. Kabir is a hopeless romantic and believes in true love.
He once told Mid Day newspaper, "Age has nothing to do with how romantic an individual is. When you love someone, you want them to feel good, wanted. Romantic gestures are a way of expressing your feelings, and that does not depend on how old you are."
Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu
When you look at Bollywood's first couple, you know that it's a perfect marriage. After his heart-breaking love affair ended with Madhubala, Dilip Kumar married Saira in October, 1961.
He was 45, already a superstar settling into comfortable domesticity and she was 22, beautiful and madly in love with the man of her dreams.
This is not to say that their marriage didn't have its share of ups and downs; news of Dilip's marriage to Asma did disturb them until it was resolved with a swift divorce.
He was 45, already a superstar settling into comfortable domesticity and she was 22, beautiful and madly in love with the man of her dreams.
This is not to say that their marriage didn't have its share of ups and downs; news of Dilip's marriage to Asma did disturb them until it was resolved with a swift divorce.
Dharmendra and Hema Malini
At 62 with two daughters, Hema Malini is still truly, madly and deeply in love with Dharmendra, the much-married superstar who wooed her on the sets of Sholay.
Hema looks up to her "Dharamji" and has stayed loyal to him in a way only true love can. Talking candidly about her marriage in Hema Malini -- An Authorized Biography, the Dream Girl says her father opposed her marriage and that her mother was upset when she finally did go ahead with her decision.
"After all these years, he still looks at me like he did when we first met," says Hema, who is 13 years younger to Dharmendra.
Hema looks up to her "Dharamji" and has stayed loyal to him in a way only true love can. Talking candidly about her marriage in Hema Malini -- An Authorized Biography, the Dream Girl says her father opposed her marriage and that her mother was upset when she finally did go ahead with her decision.
"After all these years, he still looks at me like he did when we first met," says Hema, who is 13 years younger to Dharmendra.
Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia
For all their differences today, Rajesh Khanna, then the heartthrob of the nation and Dimple, a feisty new actress, made for a happy couple. He was 34, at the height of his success and she, only 16, when they married breaking a million hearts.
Although they separated in 1984 mutually, they came back together only to live an independent life. Age, however, wasn't a reason for the bitterness in their relationship.
Although they separated in 1984 mutually, they came back together only to live an independent life. Age, however, wasn't a reason for the bitterness in their relationship.
Boney Kapoor and Sridevi
While Sridevi shared sizzling chemistry with Anil Kapoor on screen, in real life, it was the actor's brother, Boney, that she fell for.
Overcoming their nine-year-old age difference and Boney's earlier marriage to Mona, the two settled into a perfect domestic life. The ravishing actress quit acting to look after her two daughters and is now making a comeback with the film English Vinglish.
Overcoming their nine-year-old age difference and Boney's earlier marriage to Mona, the two settled into a perfect domestic life. The ravishing actress quit acting to look after her two daughters and is now making a comeback with the film English Vinglish.
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