Kiran Rao

{{short description|Indian film director, screenwriter and film producer (born 1973)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Kiran Rao

| image = Kiran Rao on Day 3 of Lakme Fashion Week 2017.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Rao at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2017

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|11|07}}{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2008/aamir-kiran-birthday-101108.html|title=Aamir surprises Kiran on birthday|work=Filmibeat.com|date=10 November 2008|access-date=2016-08-18|archive-date=9 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309201114/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2008/aamir-kiran-birthday-101108.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Gupta|first=Pratim D. |title=She's the one!|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101203/jsp/entertainment/story_13250072.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206094950/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101203/jsp/entertainment/story_13250072.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2010|access-date=2 May 2011|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 December 2010|location=Calcutta, India}}

| birth_place = Bangalore, Karnataka, India

| yearsactive = 2004–present

| alma_mater = Sophia College for Women
Jamia Millia Islamia

| spouse = {{marriage|Aamir Khan|28 December 2005|3 July 2021|reason=divorce}}

| children = 1

| organization = Paani Foundation
Aamir Khan Productions

| occupation = {{hlist|Film producer|film director|screenwriter}}

| relatives = Aditi Rao Hydari (cousin)

}}

Kiran Rao (born 7 November 1973) is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi cinema. She has directed the films Dhobi Ghat (2011) and Laapataa Ladies (2024). In 2016, Rao co-founded Paani Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

Early life

Kiran Rao was born on 7 November 1973 in Bengaluru,{{Cite web |title=Kiran Rao |url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/r/ra-rn/kiran-rao/}} daughter of retired army officer C R Rao and Uma Rao.{{Cite web |title=No glitz at Aamir's reception |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-glitz-at-aamirs-reception/articleshow/1356052.cms}} She grew up in Calcutta, where she attended Loreto House & La Martinière for Girls.{{Cite web|title=Kiran Rao's schooling|url=http://www.india.com/photos/entertainment/7-pictures-encapsulating-kiran-rao-and-aamir-khans-love-story-123340/kiran-raos-struggle-days-123343/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www.india.com|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Look who's home, it's Mrs Khan Kiran's next: solo food trip - Director of Dhobi Ghat rediscovers city on drive down memory lane |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/look-who-s-home-it-s-mrs-khan-kiran-s-next-solo-food-trip-director-of-dhobi-ghat-rediscovers-city-on-drive-down-memory-lane/cid/1273817}}{{Cite web |title=Kiran Rao: Unveiling the royal legacy of Aamir Khan's ex-wife; Know how she is related to Aditi Rao Hydari |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-kiran-rao-unveiling-the-royal-legacy-of-aamir-khans-ex-wife-know-how-she-is-related-to-aditi-rao-hydari-3361337/lite/}} In 1992, her parents decided to leave Calcutta for Bangalore so she moved to Mumbai{{Cite web|date=2010-12-06|title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) {{!}} Entertainment {{!}} She's the one!|last=Gupta|first=Pratim D|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1101203/jsp/entertainment/story_13250072.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206094950/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1101203/jsp/entertainment/story_13250072.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-12-06|access-date=2021-10-29}} for undergraduate studies. She graduated with an economics major from the Sophia College for Women in 1995.{{Cite web |title=Kiran Rao: The Gentle Subversive |url=https://openthemagazine.com/cinema/kiran-rao-the-gentle-subversive/}} She attended the Social Communications Media course at the Sophia Polytechnic for two months, but then quit and left for Delhi. She got her master's degree at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.{{cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub220111DEAR_MR.asp|title=Dear Mr. Subhash Ghai, my name is Kiran Rao|volume=8|issue=3|date=22 January 2011|work=Tehelka Magazine|access-date=19 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922072641/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub220111DEAR_MR.asp|archive-date=22 September 2012|url-status=dead}}

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari is Rao's first cousin. Rao's paternal and Hydari's maternal grandfather, J. Rameshwar Rao,{{Cite web|url=https://www.indianmemoryproject.com/69/|title=The Princes and Princess of Wanaparthi, Andhra Pradesh|date=1 February 2012|website=INDIAN MEMORY PROJECT}} was the Raja of Wanaparthy, a large estate under the Nizam of Hyderabad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151126/nation-current-affairs/article/kiran-aditi-rao%E2%80%99s-first-cousin-has-telangana-link|title=Kiran, Aditi Rao's first cousin, has Telangana link|access-date=2015-11-26|work=Deccan Chronicle}}{{Cite web|last=Sameer|date=2015-11-27|title=Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao belongs to Wanaparthy, Mahboob Nagar|url=https://archive.siasat.com/news/aamir-khans-wife-kiran-rao-belongs-wanaparthy-mahboob-nagar-875731/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=The Siasat Daily - Archive}}

Career

Rao started her career as the assistant director in the epic film Lagaan directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, whom she also assisted later on Swades: We, the People. Lagaan was nominated for 74th Academy Awards in the foreign language film category. Aamir Khan produced and starred in the same film. Before Lagaan, she has also done minute role of supporting actress in Dil Chahta Hai.{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/discussion/little-known-bollywood-debut-kiran-rao-dil-chahta-hai |title=The little known Bollywood debut of Kiran Rao in Dil Chahta Hai |publisher=Pinkvilla |access-date=8 August 2012 |archive-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703012045/http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/discussion/little-known-bollywood-debut-kiran-rao-dil-chahta-hai |url-status=dead }} She also worked as second assistant director with Academy Award-nominated director Mira Nair on the indie hit Monsoon Wedding.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment?cp-documentid=3397575&page=2|title=Best of Bollywood, South Cinema, Celebrity Photos & Videos - MSN India|website=www.msn.com}}

She scripted and directed the film Dhobi Ghat, which was released in January 2011 under Aamir Khan Productions.{{cite news|title=Aamir is a dream producer: Kiran Rao|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Aamir-is-a-dream-producer-Kiran-Rao/articleshow/7332065.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=21 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.urblife.com/the-fame/aamir-khan-and-kiran-rao-talk-dhobi-ghat|title=India's Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao Talk Dhobi Ghat, Art, Love and Career|publisher=UrbLife.com|date=2 February 2011}} She has started writing her next film which had roots in Kolkata.

Kiran Rao was made the chairperson of the Mumbai Film Festival - MAMI in 2015.{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/hope-to-make-space-for-indie-film-distribution-at-mami-kiran-rao/|title=Hope to make space for indie film distribution at MAMI: Kiran Rao|date=2015-06-30|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=2016-12-19}} She also sang a Marathi song 'Toofan Aalaya', the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup Anthem.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpZ1Q-KjUek |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/PpZ1Q-KjUek |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Toofan Aala - Satyamev Jayate Water Cup Anthem (तुफान आलंया - सत्यमेव जयते वॉटर कप गीत)|last=Paani Foundation|date=3 January 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2024, her film Laapataa Ladies was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/laapataa-ladies-indias-official-entry-to-the-97th-oscars-aamir-khan-kiran-rao-9583337/|title=Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to Oscars 2025; trumps Animal, Aattam and All We Imagine As Light |date=23 September 2024|access-date=23 September 2024 |website= The Indian Express|language=en}}

Personal life

File:Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao promote Paani Foundation on the sets of Chala Hawa Yeu Dya (5).jpg program Chala Hawa Yeu Dya in 2017]]

Rao married actor Aamir Khan in December 2005, after Khan divorced his former wife Reena Dutta in 2002. They met on the sets of Lagaan. Rao was one of the film's assistant directors. They were living in Bandra, a Mumbai suburb.{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=60745 |title=Grand reception for Aamir Khan-Kiran Rao wedding |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222235106/http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=60745 |archive-date=22 February 2007 }} The couple have a son, Azad Rao Khan, born in December 2011 (through a surrogate mother) who has been named after Abul Kalam Azad.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Tabloid/Baby-boy-for-Aamir-Khan-Kiran-Rao/Article1-778024.aspx |title=Baby boy for Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206035418/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tabloid/baby-boy-for-aamir-khan-kiran-rao/article1-778024.aspx |archive-date= 6 December 2011 }}

Rao has been a vegan, and she had influenced her then-husband, Aamir Khan, to turn vegan as well. After discussing the issue, both of them decided to turn vegan.{{cite news|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Aamir-goes-the-non-vegan-way/articleshow/46522429.cms|title=AAMIR GOES THE VEGAN WAY!|work=Mumbai Mirror|date=11 March 2015|access-date=26 March 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/03/11/aamir-khan-vegan-masterch_n_6848652.html|title=Recently Turned Vegan Aamir Khan To Judge 'MasterChef India 4' Finale?|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|work=The Huffington Post|date=15 March 2015|access-date=26 March 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/aamir-khan-quits-non-vegetarian-food-turns-vegan/|title=Aamir Khan quits non-vegetarian food, turns vegan|agency=Express News Service|work=The Indian Express|date=11 March 2015|access-date=26 March 2015}}

On 3 July 2021, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan announced their decision to divorce after 15 years of marriage via a joint statement where they thanked their family and friends for their continuous support in this matter. They stated that they would continue to raise their son as co-parents.{{cite news|title=Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announce divorce after 15 years of marriage|work=The News Minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/aamir-khan-and-kiran-rao-announce-divorce-after-15-years-marriage-151679?amp}}

Filmography

=Director=

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Notes

2011

|Dhobi Ghat

|{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/feb/230209-Dhobi-Ghaat-Kiran-Rao-local-trains-railway-station-Mumbai-terror-attack-Pratiek-Babbar.htm |title=Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut, Dhobi Ghaat's shoot stuck|date=2009-02-23|work=Mid Day|first=Sonal|last=Chawla|access-date=2016-08-18}}

2024

|Laapataa Ladies

|{{Cite web |last=सिंह |first=चारु |date=2024-05-19 |title=लापता लेडीज़: ग्रामीण ब्याहताओं के व्यक्तित्व की तलाश |url=https://thewirehindi.com/274825/laapataa-ladies-movie-review-women-hindi-cinema/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Wire - Hindi |language=en-GB}}

=Producer=

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Notes

2008

|Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na

|associate producer

2010

|Peepli Live

2011

|Dhobi Ghat

2011

|Delhi Belly

2012

|Talaash

2016

|Dangal

2017

|Secret Superstar

2019

|Rubaru Roshni{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/everything-you-want-to-know-about-aamir-khans-rubaru-roshni-1983152|title= Everything You Want To Know About Aamir Khan's Rubaru Roshni|access-date=25 January 2019}}

|television documentary film

2022

|Laal Singh Chaddha

rowspan=2 |2026

|Sitaare Zameen Par

2026

|Lahore 1947