When Thug Life, Kamal Haasan’s highly anticipated gangster drama, dropped its teaser, fans expected to marvel at the veteran actor’s magnetic screen presence. Instead, social media exploded—not over the film’s gritty action, but over two fleeting intimate scenes featuring the 70-year-old legend with much younger co-stars Trisha Krishnan (41) and Abhirami (35).
The backlash was swift, brutal, and revealing. But beneath the outrage lies a deeper question: Why does age become a scandal only for certain actors?
Table of Contents
“Thug Life” Controversy: The Internet Erupts Over Age, Art, and Double Standards in Indian Cinema
The Scenes That Broke the Internet
The teaser’s most talked-about moments:
- A passionate kiss with Trisha Krishnan (their first on-screen pairing).
- A charged confrontation with Abhirami, hinting at a complex relationship.
For some, it was bold storytelling. For others, it crossed an invisible line.
Twitter Reactions:
- “A 70-year-old romancing women half his age? Cringe!” – @CinemaPurist
- “If Amitabh Bachchan can play romantic leads at 80, why not Kamal?” – @FairPlayFan
- “The problem isn’t his age—it’s the lack of roles for older actresses.” – @WomenInCinema
Noo god please no
byu/NavyLemon64 intollywood
The Unspoken Double Standard
This isn’t just about Kamal Haasan. It’s about how Indian cinema treats aging:
- Men: Rajinikanth (73) romances Nayanthara (39) in Jailer. Amitabh Bachchan (81) played a lover in Goodbye (2022).
- Women: Actresses like Madhuri Dixit (56) and Juhi Chawla (56) are relegated to “mother roles” or sidelined entirely.
Veteran filmmaker Revathi’s take:
“We celebrate Hollywood legends like Helen Mirren (78) or Meryl Streep (74) for their romantic roles. Why can’t we extend the same grace to our stars?”
Kamal Haasan’s Silence—And the Bigger Picture
The actor has not publicly addressed the controversy, but his career speaks volumes:
- 1980s: Broke taboos with Ek Duuje Ke Liye (inter-language romance).
- 1990s: Challenged norms in Hey Ram (exploring desire and violence).
- 2020s: At 70, he’s still pushing boundaries—this time, ageism in art.
Meanwhile, Thug Life director Mani Ratnam defended the scenes as essential to the character’s ruthless persona.
What This Controversy Reveals
- Ageism is gendered: Older male actors get passes; women vanish.
- Audiences are conflicted: We praise “bold” content—unless it defies comfort zones.
- Art vs. Morality: Should storytelling conform to societal expectations?
