Kiran Rao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kiran Rao
Rao at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2017
Born	(1973-11-07) 7 November 1973 (age 51) Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Alma mater	Sophia College for Women Jamia Millia Islamia
Occupation	Film producer film director screenwriter
Years active	2004–present
Organization	Paani Foundation Aamir Khan Productions
Spouse(s)	Aamir Khan ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2021)​
Children	1
Relatives	Aditi Rao Hydari (cousin)

Kiran Rao (born 7 November 1973) is an Indian film producer, screenwriter, and director. She works mainly in Hindi cinema, which is the film industry in India.

In 2016, Kiran Rao helped start Paani Foundation. This is a non-profit group that works to fight drought (a long period of very dry weather) in Maharashtra, India. She is also a board member of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI).

Early life

Kiran Rao was born on November 7, 1973, in Bengaluru, India. Her father, C R Rao, was an army officer, and her mother is Uma Rao. She grew up in Calcutta (now Kolkata). There, she went to schools like Loreto House and La Martinière for Girls.

In 1992, her family moved to Bangalore. Kiran then moved to Mumbai for her college studies. She earned a degree in economics from the Sophia College for Women in 1995. After that, she studied at Sophia Polytechnic for a short time. She then moved to Delhi and got her master's degree from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari is Kiran Rao's first cousin. Their grandfathers were brothers. Kiran's paternal grandfather, J. Rameshwar Rao, was a "Raja" (a king or ruler) of a large area called Wanaparthy.

Career

Kiran Rao began her career in films as an assistant director. She worked on the big film Lagaan, which was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. She also helped him later on the film Swades: We, the People. Lagaan was a very important film. It was even nominated for an Academy Award (also known as the Oscars) for best foreign language film. Aamir Khan produced and starred in Lagaan.

Before Lagaan, Kiran Rao had a small acting role in the film Dil Chahta Hai. She also worked as a second assistant director with Mira Nair. Mira Nair is a director who was also nominated for an Academy Award. They worked together on the popular independent film Monsoon Wedding.

Kiran Rao wrote and directed the film Dhobi Ghat. This movie was released in January 2011 and was made under Aamir Khan Productions. She has also started writing her next film, which is set in Kolkata.

In 2015, Kiran Rao became the head of the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI). She also sang a Marathi song called 'Toofan Aalaya'. This song was the anthem for the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, which helps with water conservation.

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

Personal life

Rao and her then husband Aamir Khan promoting Paani Foundation in 2017

Kiran Rao married actor Aamir Khan in December 2005. They met on the sets of the film Lagaan, where she was an assistant director. They lived in Bandra, a part of Mumbai.

The couple has a son named Azad Rao Khan, who was born in December 2011. He was born through a surrogate mother. Azad was named after Abul Kalam Azad, a famous Indian leader.

Kiran Rao is a vegan. This means she does not eat any animal products. She also encouraged Aamir Khan to become vegan.

On July 3, 2021, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan announced that they were ending their marriage after 15 years. They released a joint statement. They said they would continue to raise their son together as co-parents.

Filmography

Director

Producer

Presenter

Singer

See also

In Spanish: Kiran Rao para niños