Kiran Rao is one of the leading names in the entertainment world. Over the period of time, this ace filmmaker carved a niche for herself in the male-dominated industry of Hindi cinema. She was once married to actor Aamir Khan; however, after 15 years of marital bliss, the couple called it quits. Despite being separated, Kiran shares an exceptional bond with Aamir and his family.
Kiran Rao is a woman of power, who has broken many stereotypes. Many people don’t know that Kiran has royal roots and is even related to actress, Aditi Rao Hydari. Let us delve into more details about Kiran and some astonishing facts about the filmmaker, who took inspiration from great visionaries like Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.
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Born in 1973 in Hyderabad in a Telugu speaking family, Kiran grew up in Kolkata. She did her schooling in Loreto House, Kolkata. In 1992, her parents left Kolkata and moved to Bengaluru, whereas, Kiran moved to Mumbai to pursue her graduation. She graduated in food sciences from Sophia College for Women. She later pursued a Master's degree from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
After completing her studies, Kiran Rao started working as an RJ at All India Radio’s midnight show. She always wanted to be a director, so Kiran began assisting an advertiser with a remuneration of Rs. 10,000 a month. Kiran started her Bollywood career as an assistant director in the film, Lagaan when she assisted ace director, Ashutosh Gowariker. She also assisted him on Swades.
She was also the second assistant director in the cult film, Monsoon Wedding, directed by Mira Nair. Apart from this, Kiran also did an uncredited cameo in the superhit film, Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. Kiran made her Bollywood debut as a director with the film, Dhobi Ghat in 2011, which was also scripted by her. Kiran has turned producer for films like Peepli Live, Delhi Belly, Talaash, Dangal, Secret Superstar and Laal Singh Chaddha.
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In 2015, Kiran was made the chairperson of the Mumbai Film Festival, MAMI. In 2016, Kiran co-founded a non-profit organization, Paani Foundation, which worked towards water management in Maharashtra.
It was during the making of Lagaan, when Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao met each other for the first time. In a throwback interview with a Chinese news channel, Aamir spoke about meeting Kiran for the first time. Talking about the same, he said:
“I met Kiran when I was doing Lagaan (2001). She was one of the ADs (assistant directors) on that but at that time, we didn’t have any relationship, we were not even great friends. She was one of the people on the unit. It was after my separation and divorce after some time that I met her again.”
It was never love at first sight as Aamir was previously married and separated from his first wife, Reena Dutta and was still nursing his wounded heart. In the same interview, Aamir also revealed how talking to Kiran made him happy, and he said:
“In that moment of trauma, her phone came and I talked to her on the phone for half an hour. And when I put the phone down, I said, ‘My God! I feel so happy when I talk to her.’ It struck me in that instant that when I am talking to her I am so happy.”
In 2005, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao got married. Before getting married, Kiran and Aamir were best of friends and only started seeing each other in 2004. They were in a live-in relationship for one year and later tied the knot. After suffering a couple of miscarriages, Kiran and Aamir welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan, via surrogacy in 2011.
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Kiran is a strong-willed woman and influenced Aamir in many ways. She has been a vegan and also influenced Aamir to quit non-vegetarian food and turn into vegan. After 15 years of marriage, Kiran and Aamir issued a joint statement and announced their separation in 2021. They also revealed co-parenting their son, Azad.
Despite their separation, Kiran shares a very warm bond with Aamir and his kids, Junaid Khan and Ira Khan. During Ira’s wedding ceremonies, Kiran wholeheartedly did all the rituals and stood by the bride throughout the ceremonies.
Kiran Rao has a royal lineage to her credit as her paternal grandfather, Janumpally Rameshwar Rao was the titular Raja of Wanaparthy, a large estate under the Nizam of Hyderabad from 1944 to 1971. He also played an important role in the Foreign Service as he founded Orient Longman in 1968. He took over the UK-based publishing house and retained the majority holding till 1984.
Another interesting fact about Kiran Rao is that the ace filmmaker shares a special connection with actress, Aditi Rao Hydari. Well, Kiran’s paternal grandfather, J. Rameshwar Rao is Aditi’s maternal great-grandfather. Therefore, Aditi and Kiran are first cousins and sisters. We have often seen the two ladies bond and take out time to spend with each other.
Kiran is one of the strong-willed women in the Hindi film industry, who has time and again proved her worth with her body of work. What do you think about her? Let us know.
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