Mumbai: After Salman Khan addressed the buzz around the 31-year-old age gap between him and his co-star Rashmika Mandanna, singer Sona Mahapatra roasted him by calling his response as ‘garbage.’
Sona took to her X handle on Monday and labelled Salman as “bhai of toxic masculinity” for defending his age gap with Rashmika by saying that when the heroine’s father has no issue, then why are others having a problem with it.
Reacting to the actor’s response, Sona wrote, “Heroine aur heroine ke ‘BAAP’ ko koi problem nahin hai’ (if the heroine has no problem, and even her father has no issue)..to jab inki shaadi ho jaegi (When he will get married) &..’permission’ like garbage response on being asked about the out of context 31 year gap with his leading lady”.
She added, “The ‘BHAI’ of toxic masculinity, patriarchy doesn’t realise that #India has changed?”
Heroine aur heroine ke ‘BAAP’ ko koi problem nahin hai’..to jab inki shaadi ho jaegi &..’permission’ like garbage response on being asked about the out of context 31 year gap with his leading lady-the ‘BHAI’ of toxic masculinity,patriarchy doesn’t realise that #India has changed?
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) March 23, 2025
During the trailer launch of ‘Sikandar’ on Sunday, defending his decision of romancing a younger actress, Salman said, “Phir woh bolte hain 31 years ka difference hai heroine aur mujh mein, arrey jab heroine ko problem nahi hai, heroine ke papa ko dikkat nahi hai, tumko kyun dikkat hai bhai? Inki shaadi hogi, bachchi hongi, toh unke sath bhi kaam karenge. Mummy ki permission toh mil hi jayega (Then they say there’s a 31-year age gap between me and the heroine. But if the heroine has no problem, and even her father has no issue, why do you have a problem, brother? When she gets married and has a daughter, I will work with her daughter too. Her mother’s permission will be sorted)”.
The actor’s response left Rashmika and the others in splits.
Reddit Dislikes Rashmika’s ‘Father-Daughter’ Chemistry With Salman
Meanwhile, expressing their disappointment over the pairing of Salman and Rashmika, Reddit users commented that the actors don’t look good at all.
One user commented, “It looks like a father and daughter spending time together. Huhhh, they don’t look good together at all.”
Another wrote, “Looks like dad and daughter bonding.”
A third user commented, “Zero. Absolutely zero chemistry! They didn’t even bother to try!”
Directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, ‘Sikandar’ is an action-packed film which revolves around Salman’s character, who is on a mission to wipe out crime from Mumbai.
Rashmika plays Salman’s love interest in the film.
The film is scheduled to release in theatres on March 30.
