Kiran Rao: Humble Beginnings As Lagaan AD To Entering Oscars 2025 Race With Laapataa Ladies

Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India’s official entry to the 97th Academy Awards. This light-hearted satire, featuring Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Sparsh Shrivastava, has received love from the audiences since its release in March earlier this year. For Kiran Rao, this marks a milestone in her career, completing a full circle from an assistant director on an Oscar-nominated film (Lagaan) to the creator of a movie chosen for the Academy Awards. But, few know of her royal background and the unknown struggles she faced, adding another layer to her life and career.

A meritorious student

Kiran Rao was born in Hyderabad on November 7, 1973, and raised in Kolkata, where she became fluent in Bengali. She attended Loreto House and La Martiniere For Girls for her schooling. Her parents are CR Rao, a retired army officer, and Uma Rao.

In 1992, her family moved from Kolkata to Bangalore, while Kiran relocated to Mumbai for her undergraduate studies. She earned a degree in economics from Sophia College for Women in 1995. After briefly enrolling in the Social Communications Media course at Sophia Polytechnic, she left for Delhi, where she completed a master's degree at AJK Mass Communication Research Center, Jamia Millia Islamia.

Kiran Rao hails from a royal family

Interestingly, actress Aditi Rao Hydari is the first cousin of Kiran Rao. The filmmaker's father is the son of J Rameshwar Rao, the former Raja of Wanaparthy, a large estate under the Nizam of Hyderabad. 

Kiran Rao’s paternal grandfather and Aditi Rao Hydari’s maternal grandfather are the same person.

Kiran takes the usual route in filmmaking

After completing her master's, Kiran Rao moved back to Mumbai. She was multitasking and juggling multiple jobs to survive the high cost of living in her dream city. In an old interview, she described herself as "essentially a gig worker", taking up jobs as they came, working as long as she was paid, and constantly worrying about her savings and rent.

Rao began her film career as an assistant director in 2001 with the epic film Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. She later assisted him on Swades: We, the People. Lagaan was nominated for an Oscar in the foreign language film category, and Aamir Khan both produced and starred in the film.

In another old interview, Khan’s former wife Rao spoke about her time on the set of Lagaan. She recalled the long, exhausting days that began at 4:30 am, managing the cast's hair and makeup, and ensuring everyone was on time. She described the experience as a "logistical nightmare", admitting she had no creative input and felt like a mere assistant.

Before working on Lagaan, Rao had a minor role in Dil Chahta Hai and also worked as a second assistant director on Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding.

Kiran Rao takes the director's chair with Dhobi Ghat

In the growing years, she skillfully balanced both her personal and professional life. Kiran Rao scripted and directed Dhobi Ghat, released in January 2011 under Aamir Khan Productions. She also scripted, and produced the critically acclaimed Mumbai Diaries in 2010. She also worked in films rooted in Kolkata.

In 2016, Dhobi Ghat director co-founded Paani Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to combating drought in Maharashtra . She also serves as a board member of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI).

In 2015, Kiran Rao was appointed chairperson of the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI). She even lent her voice to the Marathi song Toofan Aalaya, the anthem for Satyamev Jayate's Water Cup.

Her filmography includes several award-winning productions, such as Dangal (2016), which won the Filmfare Award for Best Film, shared with Aamir Khan and Siddharth Roy Kapur. She also received nominations for Secret Superstar (2017), Delhi Belly (2011), and Peepli [Live] (2010), sharing recognition with Aamir Khan, Ronnie Screwvala, and Akash Chawla.

In 2024, her film Laapataa Ladies was selected as India's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan: Co-workers to couple

Kiran Rao met actor Aamir Khan on the sets of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), and they married in December 2005, making her his second wife. However, she faced a lot of backlash. In an old interview, Rao once denied rumours of having an affair with Khan while he was still married to his first wife, Reena. Although she worked with him in Lagaan, their relationship didn't begin until after Khan had separated from his first wife.

The former couple welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan, born via surrogate on 1 December 2011.

On July 3, 2021, after 15 years of marriage, Rao and Khan announced their divorce. In a joint statement, they expressed gratitude to their family and friends for their support and confirmed they would continue co-parenting their son. Despite their separation, they are occasionally seen together and still share a business.