Actor Imran Khan has shared candid thoughts on how ageing affects stardom in Bollywood, saying that even the industry’s biggest leading men must eventually adapt to changing audience expectations. In a conversation with News18, Imran reflected on the careers of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, noting that no actor can continue playing traditional hero roles indefinitely.
“You cannot be playing the lead after a certain age,” Imran said, explaining that every actor has a limited window in which they can convincingly portray a leading man. According to him, ageing out of such roles is an organic and inevitable part of an actor’s journey, regardless of fame or legacy.
He pointed out that the three Khans, now in their 60s, have enjoyed over three decades of unparalleled stardom, something rarely seen in global cinema. However, Imran believes that as actors grow older, the nature of their stardom also evolves, requiring a transition toward roles that reflect their age and lived experiences.
Imran also spoke about shifting audience dynamics, saying that viewers tend to connect most strongly with characters who reflect their own stage of life. As generations change, younger audiences naturally gravitate toward stars closer to their age and worldview, making it harder for senior actors to remain universal crowd-pullers in conventional hero roles.
“When we watch films or shows, we are trying to see ourselves in those stories and characters,” he explained, adding that younger viewers may not always relate to narratives centred on much older protagonists.
For over 30 years, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have dominated Bollywood, but evolving content preferences and selective viewing habits have sparked conversations about how senior stars can reinvent themselves. Imran’s remarks add to this broader industry debate on longevity, reinvention and relevance in cinema.
On the work front, Imran Khan was last seen in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, alongside Vir Das, Mithila Palkar, Mona Singh and Sharib Hashmi.
