किरण राव@52; ‘लगान’ के सेट पर पिलाई कॉफी- संभालीं बकरियां: आमिर से शादी की बात सुनकर पेरेंट्स हुए थे हैरान, ‘लापता लेडीज’ से बनाया रिकॉर्ड

Kiran Rao was born in Bengaluru, but spent his childhood in Kolkata. Talking about Kiran’s family background, people often associate her with the Royal Family of Telangana. However, in an interview given to Lallantop, Kiran had told that he is not directly related to the Royal Family. His connection to Telangana is through his grandfather’s sister, who was married to Raja J. of Vanaparthi. It was from Rameshwar Rao.

Kiran considers herself a mixed cultural identity of both Karnataka and Kolkata. Whereas, actress Aditi Rao Hydari is his cousin.

Kiran Rao’s cousin Aditi Rao Hydari has worked in films like ‘Delhi-6’ and ‘Padmavat’.

Kiran’s mother Uma Rao was a school teacher, while her father C.R. Rao worked in marketing at a British iron-steel company named Guest Keen & Williams.

Kiran did her schooling from Loreto House in Kolkata and then La Martiniere for Girls. After this she went to Sophia College, Mumbai to study Arts. Further, he has done Master in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi.

After completing her master’s in Mass Communication from Jamia, Kiran moved to Mumbai to work in the film industry. His first film was Ashutosh Gowarikar’s ‘Lagaan’. In which he played the role of Assistant Director.

The success of the film ‘Lagaan’ is not just the story of the vision of Ashutosh Gowarikar and Aamir Khan, but also of the spirit of the team who worked hard in harsh desert-like conditions for six months. Kiran Rao was one of the most hardworking members of that team.

Kiran Rao is the co-founder of the NGO Paani Foundation, which works to solve the critical problem of water scarcity and drought.

In 2001, ‘Lagaan’ was shot in Kunaria village of Bhuj, Gujarat. Sometimes the temperature would drop to minus, and sometimes it would reach 48 degrees.

Kiran Rao’s job was to bring all the actors to the set, from make-up, hairstyle, clothes. Kiran used to reach the set every day from 4 to 4:30 in the morning so that the shooting could start properly. Many times he was even asked to bring coffee for the actors on the set.

In an interview given to The Lallantop regarding the shooting of ‘Lagaan’, she had said, “Before reaching the set, I kept asking on the walkie-talkie to turn on the toaster. Actress Rachel Shelley, who played the role of ‘Elizabeth’ in the film, wanted toast first thing in the morning.”

Recently, in a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, actor Akhilendra Mishra said, “The chief assistant director of the film ‘Lagaan’ was Apoorva Lakhia. Apoorva had also worked as an assistant in the Hollywood films ‘The Ice Storm’ and ‘A Perfect Murder’. Aamir Khan had brought him to India. Apoorva then added three more assistant directors Reema Kagti, Priyamvada Narayanan and Kiran Rao to the team of ‘Lagaan’. “Included.”

According to Akhilendra Mishra, “Nowadays production just means managing things, but on the sets of ‘Lagaan’ work was at a different level. Kiran Rao’s job was not just to hand over the callsheet. She ensured that every actor, especially the actresses, got ready on time, got breakfast and reached the set on time.”

The discipline on the set was such that if any artiste got ready and went out to roam on the set, Kiran and her team would give clear instructions – “You are not allowed. Wait in your room or make-up room.”

Akhilendra Mishra said that the major credit for the success of this film goes to Apoorva Lakhia and his team Kiran, Reema and Priya. Seeing the work of these three actors, all of us were their fans.

Akhilendra Mishra played the role of Arjan in the film ‘Lagaan’.

Akhilendra Mishra further told that during the daily shooting in the village there was a crowd of about 1 thousand people and in the climax scene this number reached 10 thousand. Maintaining the continuity of the clothes of those thousands of people, their continuity, even their goats, Kiran and her team handled everything very well.

After ‘Lagaan’, Kiran Rao worked as an assistant director in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s film Swadesh and Mira Nair’s film ‘Monsoon Wedding’.

First film as a director

After a decade of learning, understanding and experience, Kiran made his first film as a director ‘Dhobi Ghat’. Talking about the film, this film was about the city of Mumbai, loneliness, dreams and the soft layers of relationships.

‘Dhobi Ghat’ had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2010 and was released theatrically on 21 January 2011. Made at a cost of Rs 5 crore, this film did a business of Rs 25 crore worldwide. Critics also praised the film. The film was shortlisted in the Best Non-English Language Film category at the 65th British Academy Film Awards.

Actor Danish Hussain, who worked in the film ‘Dhobi Ghat’, told Dainik Bhaskar that this film was not just a project for him, but was a school of Kiran Rao’s vision and direction.

According to Danish, Kiran Rao maintained a great balance in every aspect of the shooting. He said, “She never spoke loudly, but she had a very strong grip on the set. She knew where to take the film.”

Actor Danish Hussain played the role of Salim in Kiran Rao’s film ‘Dhobi Ghat’.

Danish told that when he worked in ‘Dhobi Ghat’, he was completely new in the world of cinema. At that time he had very little understanding of screen acting, he was just learning how to act in wide shots, how much energy he should have in front of the camera.

Many times he used to get confused during the shooting, but Kiran Rao’s attitude was very supportive.

Danish says, “Kiran understood that my technical sense was a bit weak. She would often say, ‘Don’t take tension, just concentrate on acting.’ These words of his immediately put me at ease. My confidence started growing from there.”

Danish says that recently when he watched ‘Dhobi Ghat’ again after 14 years, he was surprised to see his own performance.

He said, “The Bombay accent that I had in the film actually came from Kiran Rao’s preparation and his direction.”

Relationship between Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s relationship started from a professional collaboration to friendship, love and marriage. Over time this relationship became an example of maturity and mutual respect.

The two first met in 2000 on the sets of the film Lagaan. At that time, Aamir was the lead actor and producer of the film, while Kiran was working as an assistant director. Although there was no special relationship between the two during that time. He was not even a good friend. Aamir knew Kiran like everyone else in the bus unit.

Aamir and his first wife Reena were divorced in 2002. After this the conversation between him and Kiran started. Aamir was quite shocked at that time due to the breakdown of his marriage.

Once Kiran called him and the conversation between them lasted for about half an hour. When the phone call ended, Aamir realized that he was very happy. He was feeling relaxed after talking to Kiran. From here their relationship took a serious turn. Gradually, after talking, they started dating and lived together for about one and a half years before marriage.

In 2005, Aamir and Kiran had a civil marriage in Mumbai. After the marriage, there was a 3-day celebration in Panchgani, Mumbai and their wedding reception was held in an old Parsi bungalow named Meherbai House. In which many big stars of Bollywood had come to congratulate both of them. Kiran was facing difficulty in becoming a mother, so she decided on surrogacy. After this his son Azad was born.

Kiran and Aamir’s son Azad was born in the year 2011.

Meanwhile, while talking to ANI, Kiran Rao had told that when she told her parents about her decision to marry Aamir Khan, they were shocked.

Kiran said, “He was really surprised. In his eyes, I was a girl with a lot of potential who wanted to do a lot in life. He was afraid that I might get lost in front of a big personality like Aamir, that my own identity might get suppressed.”

Amidst such huge fame of Aamir, Kiran also felt the pressure many times, but she was comforted by the fact that Aamir always allowed her to be herself. She had said, “Aamir never wanted me to live in a particular way. He was always happy that I remain as I am and this is his biggest quality.”

In 2021, after 15 years, both of them decided to separate with mutual consent. In their joint statement, they said that they are separating as a couple, but will always be connected as family and colleagues. Both of them are raising their son Azad together.

Returning to direction after 13 years

Kiran Rao returned to direction after 13 years in the year 2023. His second film as a director is ‘Lapata Ladies’. Talking about the film, it focuses on women’s identity, patriarchy, social system and self-respect. This film was praised a lot. The film also made a record at the 70th Filmfare Awards. It received the Best Film award at the 70th Filmfare Awards. At the same time, Kiran Rao was also given the award of Best Director.

Actress Chhaya Kadam of the film ‘Laapta Ladies’, in a recent conversation with Dainik Bhaskar about director Kiran Rao, said that Kiran Rao’s cinema comes from her heart. She pays attention to every smallest detail, so that no scene of the film gives a wrong message.

Chhaya Kadam played the character of ‘Manju Mai’ in Kiran Rao’s film ‘Laapta Ladies’.

Chhaya told that during the Corona period, when many people from the team fell ill during the shooting, Kiran herself handled both the camera and direction. There was no wrinkle on his face even for a moment. He gave courage to all of us.

Chhaya further said that Kiran ji believes in humanity. If a junior artist is standing in the cold, she will go and say – ‘Brother, wear a sweater.’

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