Have you ever noticed how in Bollywood movies, the leading man is often decades older than the actress playing opposite him—and yet for women, roles seem to vanish as they age? Dia Mirza, the renowned actress and voice of reason in the industry, is breaking the silence on this glaring double standard. Dia Mirza recently slammed the film industry's **ageism and gender bias**, highlighting how women over 35 gradually disappear from meaningful roles. She pointed out that while men continue to be cast opposite much younger women, actresses rarely get the chance to portray older characters with depth or even romantic leads later in life. According to Dia, this restricts women from aging *with visibility* onscreen and truncates their career opportunities unfairly[2]. Speaking candidly, Dia revealed that offers for women tend to dry up between the ages of 35 and 48, with roles limited mostly to being mothers or sisters beyond that. She added that this pattern isn't new but remains persistent, damaging not only careers but also representation in cinema[1]. Moreover, she criticized the increasing reliance on social media popularity for casting decisions, which sidelines talented actors who may not be as vocal online but deserve roles based on merit[1]. This conversation is crucial for both creators and viewers, as it challenges industry norms that marginalize women's experiences and talents based solely on age. The time has come to demand better equality in how stories are told and who gets to tell them. What do you think about the age gap in casting and the double standards for aging in Bollywood? Have you seen examples of this in films or shows you watch? Share your thoughts below and help keep this important discussion going by commenting and sharing this post with your friends!Citations
1.https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/dia-mirza-opens-up-on-ageism-in-bollywood-for-women-offers-disappear-from-35-to-48-article-151459292
2.https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2025/dia-mirza-calls-out-age-gap-in-casting-women-are-denied-the-right-to-age-with-visibility-491181.html
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