Lakshmi Manchu on playing heroine to younger actors at a time when actresses complain about ageism in industry: ‘Girls stick to one hero…’

Lakshmi Manchu, who has been cast opposite actors five and seven years younger to her, shared her view on ageism in the industry.

Lakshmi Manchu talks about ageism in the film industry. (Photo: Lakshmi Manchu/Instagram)

Lakshmi Manchu, who is the daughter of veteran actor Mohan Babu, has had an interesting journey in the movies. Lakshmi, who secretly joined Hollywood to make her dream of becoming an actor come true, is today one of the fewest actresses in Indian cinema who plays the lead role opposite younger actors, unlike majority of the films where a 50-year-old hero romances someone in their 20s.

Lakshmi was cast opposite Aadhi Pinisetty, an actor 5 years younger to her, in the 2013 film Gundello Godari, which was a hit at the box office. In the 2015 movie Dongaata, she was cast opposite Adivi Sesh, an actor who is 7 years younger to her.

However, this is a very rare practice in Indian cinema. Sharing her view on the same, Lakshmi Manchu told indianexpress.com, “It’s a patriarchal society. The boys are the one spending more to get out there. You are playing to the fantasy I think. We as women, if we like one hero, for the rest of our life, we are with that one hero (as a fan). But, our boys are not like that. Whoever is the hottest heroine, is their new favourite. So I think it is about our (women) mentality of always being one hero’s fan… why weren’t you other hero’s fan? Even this is really difficult for women to think if you really think about it. That’s just my take on it.”

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ALSO READ | Lakshmi Manchu denies calling dad Mohan Babu a ‘roadblock’ in her career: ‘He was a strict father’

The problem of ageism has been there in the film industry since the beginning. Several actresses over the years have expressed their displeasure in being a victim of ageism. Actors like Shefali Shah have played the role of a mother to Akshay Kumar at the age of 28 in the film Waqt: The Race Against Time. Akshay was 32 at that time.

Meanwhile, young stars like Manushi Chhillar said age is not an issue for them when they are cast against superstars like Akshay Kumar. In an interview with Times Now, Manushi said, “Akshay Kumar is a superstar, and I want to work with him. For me, it doesn’t matter what his age is. I had fun working with him.”

ALSO READ | Lakshmi Manchu opens up on stars’ entourages: ‘Every actor brings five people, kyu chahiye itne log?’

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Apart from the age gap between the lead actors, there have also been cases where actresses are not given age-appropriate roles. In 2019, there was a massive outrage when Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar were roped in to play older roles. Neena Gupta had reacted to the casting and said, “I was just thinking about this hamari umar ke role toh kamsekam humse kara lo.”

Jyothi Jha

Jyothi Jha is an incisive Copy Editor and multi-platform journalist at The Indian Express, where she specializes in high-stakes entertainment reporting and cinematic analysis. With over six years of diverse experience across India’s leading media houses, she brings a rigorous, ethics-first approach to digital storytelling and editorial curation. Experience & Career Jyothi’s career is characterized by its breadth and depth across the media landscape. Before joining the editorial team at The Indian Express, she honed her expertise covering the entertainment beat for premier national broadcasters, including NDTV, Republic Media, and TV9. Her professional journey is not limited to digital text; she has a proven track record as an on-air anchor and has successfully managed production teams within the high-pressure segments of Politics and Daily News. This 360-degree view of newsroom operations allows her to navigate the complexities of modern journalism with veteran precision. Expertise & Focus Areas Guided by the Orwellian principle that "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do," Jyothi focuses on transparent, accountability-driven reporting. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Deconstruction: Analyzing the social subtext of mainstream Bollywood and South Indian cinema (e.g., Kantara, Masaan, Dabangg). Toxic Masculinity & Gender Studies: A vocal critic of regressive tropes in Indian cinema, she often highlights the industry's treatment of women and social progress. Box Office & Industry Economics: Providing data-backed predictions and analysis of film performance and superstar fee structures. Exclusive Multimedia Coverage: Conducting deep-dive interviews and long-form features that bridge the gap between archival history and modern pop culture. Authoritativeness & Trust Jyothi Jha has established herself as a trusted voice by prioritizing substance over PR-driven narratives. Her background in hard news and political production provides her with a unique lens through which she views the entertainment industry—not merely as gossip, but as a reflection of societal values. Readers rely on her for "Journalism of Courage," knowing her critiques are rooted in a deep respect for the craft and a refusal to settle for superficiality. Her ability to pivot between daily news and specialized entertainment analysis makes her a versatile and authoritative pillar of The Indian Express newsroom. ... Read More

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