14 Bollywood Couples Who Didn’t Let Age Gap Affect Their Marriage
Posted On: 09 Sep 2021 | Last Updated : 23 Jan 2024 | Views : 3.3k
Marriage brings two people of different backgrounds, cultures, and ages together, where one needs to understand and accept their partner and unlearn some of their old habits to keep the relationship strong. In our society, a 10 years of age gap in a couple is considered taboo, however, there have been many Bollywood couples with an age gap of two decades or more. They were wise enough to understand the literal meaning of the phrase 'Age is just a number'. You are never too old or young to try something new, and the same goes for a marriage. Despite your age, culture, or background, you can have a successful marriage. All you need to do is make your partner feel comfortable and stand by them through thick and thin. Let’s check out these top 14 Bollywood couples who had an age difference of 20 or more than 20 years.
1. Dilip Kumar (1922) and Saira Banu (1944) – 22 Years & Asma Rehman (1947) – 25 Years
Dilip Kumar also referred to as the 'Tragedy King' of Bollywood for his serious roles, was one of the most successful actors in the Indian film industry. After being linked with several actresses by gossip magazines, he finally married actress Saira Banu who was 22 years younger than him, in 1966. He then married Hyderabad socialite Asma Rehman who was 25 years younger than him and took her as his second wife in 1981. The second marriage ended in almost two years. However, his relationship with Saira Banu remained unaffected as she stood by his side and took care of him till the very end.
2. Kabir Bedi (1946) and Nikki Bedi (1966) – 20 Years & Parveen Dusanj (1975) – 29 Years
Kabir Bedi, the father of actress Pooja Bedi and maternal grandfather of actress Alaya F., is a famous Bollywood actor who married four times. His third marriage was to a British television presenter Nikki Bedi who was 20 years younger than him. The two married in 1992, this marriage was childless, and it ended in 2005. In 2016, he married a British-born woman Parveen Dosanjh who is 29 years younger than him. It was his fourth marriage, and he married Parveen a day before he turned 70, proving that age is just a number, and you can fall in love anytime and with anyone.
3. Kishore Kumar (1929) and Yogeeta Bali (1952) – 23 Years & Leena Chandavarkar (1950) – 21 Years
Legendary singer and actor Kishore Kumar is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian music. He married four times. His first wife was Bengali singer and actress, Ruma Ghosh, his second wife was actress Madhubala, his third marriage was to actress Yogeeta Bali, and his final marriage was to actress Leena Chandavarkar. In 1976, he married Yogeeta Bali, who was 23 years younger than him; the marriage was short-lived and childless. In 1980, he married actress Leena Chandavarkar who was 21 years younger than him, even after the huge age gap the marriage was successful, and the two stayed together until his death.
4. Milind Soman (1965) and Ankita Konwar (1991) – 26 Years
Milind Soman, an Indian actor, supermodel, and film producer, made the headlines in 2018 with his marriage to Ankita Konwar, who is 26 years younger than him. Their marriage took many by surprise due to the wide age gap. The couple had to face the trolling and questioning about their relationship, however, they took everything positively and their relationship only grew stronger with time.
5. Nazir Ahmed Khan (1904) and Swaran Lata (1924) – 20 Years
Nazir Ahmed Khan was an Indian actor who was born in British India. He married thrice in his life span. His first wife was his cousin Sikandra Begum, his second wife was the legendary Kathak dancer Sitara Devi and his third marriage was to actress Swaran Lata. His third wife, Swaran Lata was around 20 years younger than him. Swaran Lata was also born in British India, after the partition, the couple moved to Pakistan and appeared in many Pakistani movies thereafter.
6. Peketi Sivaram (1918) and Jayanthi (1945) – 27 Years
Kamala Kumari, known by her stage name Jayanthi was an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Kannada and Tamil cinema but appeared in a few Hindi movies like Teen Bahuraniyan (1968), Gunda (1970), and Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1963). Jayanthi married a South Indian actor and director Peketi Sivaram who was 27 years older than her. The couple also had a son, Krishna Kumar.
7. Shekhar Kapur (1945) and Suchitra Krishnamoorthi (1975) – 30 Years
Shekhar Kapur is a famous Indian actor, director, and film producer who is known for directing commercially successful movies like Masoom (1983), Mr. India (1987), and Bandit Queen (1994). Shekhar Kapur married twice. Shekhar Kapur's first marriage was to Medha Gujral (who later married Anup Jalota) in 1984 and got divorced in 1994. His second marriage was to an Indian actress, writer, and singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi who is 30 years younger than him. The age difference of three decades didn’t stop the two from falling in love. They got married in 1999 and also have a daughter named Kaveri Kumar. They spent several years together but separated in 2007.
8. V. Shantaram (1901) and Sandhya Shantaram (1932) – 31 Years
Sandhya Shantaram is an Indian actress who appeared in several films directed by her husband V. Shantaram like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1958), and Navrang (1959). Sandhya Shantaram was the third wife of actor-director V. Shantaram and she was 31 years younger than him. The marriage was childless but successful as they stayed together till the end.
9. Alyque Padamsee (1928) and Sharon Prabhakar (1955) – 27 Years
Alyque Padamsee is an Indian theatre personality and ad filmmaker who also appeared in the biographical film Gandhi (1982). Alyque Padamsee married thrice, and his third wife Sharon Prabhakar, a pop singer and theatre personality, is 27 years younger than him. They married in 1986 and they have a daughter, actress Shazahn Padamsee who has appeared in movies like Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009), Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011), and Housefull 2 (2012). After the birth of their child, they soon got separated.
10. Imtiaz Khan (1942) and Krutika Desai (1965) – 23 Years
Imtiaz Khan, brother of actor Amjad Khan, was an Indian actor and director known for his work in movies like Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Zorro (1975), Dharmatma (1975) and Pyaara Dost (1982). The actor was married to famous film and television actress Krutika Desai, who was 23 years younger than him. Even after the age difference of over two decades, the couple had a successful marriage, and the two became parents to a daughter named Ayesha Khan.
11. B. Sohanlal (1921) and Saroj Khan (1948) – 27 Years
Saroj Khan was one of Bollywood's iconic female choreographers who choreographed over 3000 songs in Bollywood films. Her first marriage was to B. Sohanlal, the Bollywood dance director, who was also Saroj Khan’s primary teacher. B. Sohanlal was 27 years older than Saroj Khan, however, despite the age difference of around three decades, the student-teacher duo fell in love and married in 1961, and they had two children. The marriage was short-lived as the two got separated in 1965, and Saroj Khan then married Sardar Roshan Khan in 1975.
12. I. S. Johar (1920) and Sonia Sahni (1942) – 22 Years
Ace comedian-actor, producer, and director I. S. Johar was born in British India and excelled in comedy roles. He married and divorced five women, and one of his wives was the actress Sonia Sahni, who appeared in many movies of Johar’s productions. Sonia Sahni was 22 years younger than I. S. Johar. The marriage was short-lived and childless.
13. P. N. Arora (1912) and Helen (1938) – 26 Years
Actress Helen was married to producer-director Prem Narayan Arora in 1957 who was famous for making films like Rail Ka Dibba, Chor Bazar, Khazanchi and Dil Daulat Duniya, etc. The couple who had an age gap of 26 years were divorced in 1974 and thereafter Helen married screenwriter Salim Khan in 1981. Helen didn’t have any children from either of her marriages but adopted Arpita Khan who is married to actor Aayush Sharma. Helen currently stays along with Salim Khan’s family including his first wife Salma Khan whose children are Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan and Alvira Khan.
14. Arbaaz Khan (1967) and Sshura Khan (1993) – 25 Years
Arbaaz Khan and Sshura Khan join the list of celebrity couples who have an age gap of 20 years or more. Actor-director Arbaaz Khan tied the knot with 25 years younger Sshura Khan in an intimate wedding ceremony on 24 December 2023. After separation from his ex-wife actress Malaika Arora in 2017 Arbaaz Khan met Sshura on the sets of his film, Patna Shukla. Even though there's a big age gap of 25 years between them, they eventually fell in love and are a married couple now.