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Aamir Khan‘s latest production, Laapataa Ladies, has been generating buzz in the film industry, particularly after its selection as India’s official entry in this year’s Oscars race. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the film is helmed by Kiran Rao, Aamir’s ex-wife, with whom he shares a professional and personal bond that has only grown stronger despite their divorce.
Aamir has been vocal about his admiration for Kiran’s directorial skills, and he felt that she was the perfect person to helm Laapataa Ladies. “I feel so grateful and fortunate that Kiran has come into my life and we have spent 16 beautiful years together. I have learnt so much from her. She is an amazing person. She is an amazing human being, and she is also a great director,” Aamir said in a recent interview with BBC News India.
Aamir also revealed that he chose Kiran to direct Laapataa Ladies because of her honest storytelling style. “When I read the script, the first name that came to my mind was Kiran, because I feel she is such an honest director and this is such a dramatic story and I needed a director who would say it very honestly,” he said.
He added, “In telling the story very honestly, the drama actually increases. Instead of dramatising the storytelling, which a lot of directors end up doing, I think the reason I chose Kiran is because I knew she’d be very honest with it and that’s what I wanted. That’s what I felt was needed also. She has a great creative instinct, she is great with actors. Once she takes ownership of a script or a film then she gives it her all. I know I can completely depend on her to do what is required for the film. So she and I are very alike in that sense, we give it all.”
Despite their divorce, Aamir and Kiran have maintained a strong relationship, both personally and professionally. When asked to spill the beans on how they maintain a rare amicable relationship after a change in their relationship dynamics, Aamir said, “There is no secret. She is a great person and I am not too bad either. So we get along really well. We really love each other. We respect each other. Our relationship may have changed slightly but that doesn’t mean that what we feel for each other has gone down or something.”
When the interviewer asked Aamir if they have had any arguments, her asked the interviewer, “on the film?” and continued saying, “Oh yeah! Tonnes, of course! We can’t make a film without an argument! So we argue every point and we have strong opinions but our sensibility is very similar so we are not talking about fundamental things. Sometimes we are just trying to sometimes convince the other person of a better way of conveying something. She, being the director, I leave a lot to her. I want to go with her instinct. I want her to own the film. I want it to be hers.”
“I often feel that when you are making a film, the film is like a child, and the director of the film is like the mother of the film and the producer of the film is like the father of the film. The various actors and crew members are like uncles and aunts and siblings… But it’s the mother who is really the most important person for the child. That’s how I look at it…,” Aamir added.
Aamir and Kiran were married for 16 years before announcing their separation in 2021. They have a son, Azad Rao Khan, who was born in 2011 through surrogacy. Despite their divorce, the two have continued to co-parent their son and collaborate on work projects.
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