Exclusive: Kiran Rao on Oscar-worthy Laapataa Ladies, and breaking 'social norms'

In an exclusive interview with us, filmmaker Kiran Rao shares her excitement for Laapataa Ladies, and explains her ambitions and purpose as a woman in the Indian filmmaking scene.

In Short

• Kiran Rao on how Laapataa Ladies empowered her
• The director talked about starting as an AD, and learning holistic filmmaking
• Kiran said she wants to champion diverse narratives, challenging societal norms

Director-producer Kiran Rao says her film, Laapataa Ladies, empowered her in many ways. She spoke to India Today Digital in an exclusive interview about being a producer, the need to open up more avenues for women in the film industry, and making cinema that can 'spark conversations'.

Kiran, who began her career as an assistant director (AD) for Aamir Khan's film Lagaan (2001), wrote and directed her first film, Dhobi Ghat, in 2011. She recounted her journey from an AD to writer, director and a producer.

Kiran shared, "I started my work in the film industry in production as an AD, which taught me the importance of every single person in every department and to look at the filmmaking process holistically. It broadened my creative perspective too, because a producer nurtures a story from its inception to its final execution and distribution. To produce is to understand the marriage between the art of filmmaking and the commerce of it, so having that understanding helped to inform my creative decisions as well."

She is one of the most celebrated directors and producers in the country today, especially as Laapataa Ladies, her most recent film, became India's official entry to the 97th Academy Awards. Speaking about her experience of supporting the film, Kiran said, "Producing Laapataa Ladies has been a wonderful experience. It was not my first, but wearing both the director and producer's hat is both empowering and satisfying."

"Stories that spark conversations"

The film blends humour, drama and subtly questions the patriarchy with its narrative - a recurring theme in most of Kiran's movies. While elaborating on her idea behind filmmaking and the kind of stories that appeal to her, she told us, "I want to champion narratives that reflect diverse experiences and challenge societal norms. Even if I am not directly involved in directing or writing, I aim to support stories that resonate with audiences and spark important conversations, while being entertaining and engaging."

For Kiran, it's important that she is constantly evolving in all her roles. The idea is to never stop understanding and learning the business of filmmaking in a wholesome manner. This also includes hopping from one department to another and encouraging a 'more diverse and inclusive film landscape', especially if you are a woman.

Importance of 'more varied storytelling'

She explained, "Knowledge is never absolute, and learning is a continuing journey. As a woman in filmmaking, broadening one's understanding and learning about other departments not only enriches one's own career, but also contributes to a more inclusive and diverse film landscape. I feel that’s most important, as it leads to richer narratives and more varied storytelling."
Kiran concluded, "Today, women in film are carving a space for themselves across the board, from direction to cinematography to production, and I am hopeful that even more will join the industry."

The filmmaker is on a mission to develop stories that are easy to grasp and, at the same time, leave you thinking. The larger focus is on celebrating cinema for its basic purpose - to mirror society and help it evolve into a more creative and inclusive space for all.