Aamir Khan says they still “love each other, respect each other” after split from Kiran Rao
Aamir Khan’s latest production, Missing Ladies, has been the talk of the town in the film industry, especially 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 directed by Kiran Rao, Aamir’s ex-wife, with whom he has a professional and personal relationship that has grown even stronger despite their divorce.
Aamir has been praising Kiran’s directorial skills, and felt she was the perfect person to direct Missing Ladies. “I feel very grateful and lucky that Kiran came into my life and we have spent 16 beautiful years together. I have learned so much from her. She is an amazing person,” he added. In a recent interview with BBC News India, Aamir said, “He is a wonderful human being and a wonderful director as well.” Aamir also revealed that he chose Kiran to direct Missing Ladies because his style of storytelling is honest.
He said, “When I read the script, the first name that came to my mind was Kiran because I think he is a very honest director and it is a very dramatic story and I needed a director who could tell it with great honesty.” He added, “Telling the story very honestly really adds to the drama. Rather than dramatizing the story, which a lot of directors do, I think I chose Kiran because I knew she would be very honest with it and that’s what I wanted. I felt that was important. She has a great creative instinct, she’s very good with actors. Once she takes charge of a script or a film, she gives it her all.
I know I can completely depend on her to do whatever is needed for the film. So she and I are similar in that regard, we give our all.” Despite the divorce, Aamir and Kiran have maintained a strong relationship both personally and professionally. When asked how they maintain a rare cordial relationship despite the changes in their relationship, Aamir said, “There is no secret in it.
She is a wonderful person and I am not that bad either. So we both get along very well. We love each other a lot. We respect each other. There might have been a slight change in our relationship but it doesn’t mean that what we feel for each other has diminished or anything.”
When the interviewer asked Aamir if they had any arguments, he asked the interviewer, “Over a film?” and added, “Oh yes! A lot, of course! We can’t make a film without debate! So we debate every point and we have strong opinions, but our sensibilities are very similar, so we’re not talking about the basic things. Sometimes we’re just trying to convince the other person to express something in a better way.
That, being the director, I leave a lot to her. I want to go with her instincts. I want her to own the film. I want it to be hers.” Aamir said, “I often think that when you’re 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 to the child. That’s how I look at it…” Aamir and Kiran were married for 16 years before announcing their separation in 2021.
They have a son, Azad Rao Khan, born via surrogacy in 2011. Despite the divorce, the two have continued to co-parent their son and collaborate on work projects.
