Juggling roles as a film producer, screenwriter, director, and mother, Kiran Rao has carved out her niche in the film industry. Despite her 15-year marriage to superstar Aamir Khan (the couple divorced in 2021), Rao has steadfastly built an independent identity within the entertainment realm.
Her directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat (2011), premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and earned critical acclaim, even being long-listed for the BAFTA awards.
Rao’s journey, marked by a commitment to her artistic vision rather than industry trends, continues with the upcoming release of Laapataa Ladies on March 1st. This comedy explores the accidental swapping of two young brides on a train, leading them on a journey of self-discovery and womanhood.
Despite the official divorce from Aamir Khan in 2021, Rao maintains a strong bond with him, evident in their joint celebrations at their daughter Ira Khan’s wedding to Nupur Shikhare.
The regal roots of Kiran Rao add a fascinating dimension to her narrative. Born in Hyderabad on November 7, 1973, and raised in Kolkata, Rao, fluent in Bengali, attended Loreto House and La Martiniere For Girls for her schooling. Her passion for filmmaking blossomed in Kolkata, influenced by the works of luminaries Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.
Rao later moved to Mumbai for her bachelor’s degree at Sophia College and pursued a master’s in mass communication at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University.
The royal connection becomes apparent through Rao’s father, the son of J. Rameshwar Rao, the former Raja of Wanaparthy state, once a significant estate under the Nizam of Hyderabad. J. Rameshwar Rao, the titular Raja from 1944 to 1971, played a pivotal role in the Indian Foreign Service and founded Orient Longman in 1948. Adding to this regal lineage, Rao shares a celebrity cousin bond with Aditi Rao Hydari.
Aditi, the daughter of Hindustani singer Vidya Rao, is the niece of Kiran Rao’s father. Vidya Rao was married to Ehsaan Hydari, belonging to the Tyabji family, establishing Aditi Rao Hydari’s connection to two distinct royal lineages. In essence, Kiran Rao and Aditi Rao Hydari are first cousins, linking their stories through a heritage of nobility and artistic prowess.
