Aamir Khan and I started off on a difficult equation: Kiran Rao

Film-maker Kiran Rao is not your quintessential Bollywood star wife. In fact, everything she does, speaks volumes of her choice of not wanting to settle in the comfort of being just a Mrs famous surname! But for Kiran, it’s not so much about a need to carve her own identity, as it is to do something that she feels passionately about. In Kiran’s case — it’s making films. Now, ready with her directorial debut, Kiran’s feeling the nerve-wrecking pangs that first-timers go through. But having the expertise and assurance of film-maker-actor and husband Aamir Khan at hand definitely helps, points out Kiran.

“Aamir is undoubtedly the backbone of this film, in many ways, and not just for his role, that has to be Prateik (Babbar),” she says, explaining that it is Prateik who’s the common link between all the characters in her film. “But in terms of support as a producer and definitely for being, living, eating and breathing my film with me for all this while means a lot,” she adds.

However, her experience of directing her star husband wasn’t a smooth sail initially, reveals Kiran as she admits to having had a rocky start with him. “Aamir and I started off on a difficult equation,” she says. “I would often lose my temper with Aamir and was less patient with him than I was with the others, since I had far too many expectations that stemmed from our personal relationship. Initially, we took it for granted that both of us would understand everything on the sets too. It took us a few arguments and fights to come to a calm professional equation and it took me a while to settle in to the role of a director with Aamir,” she says, adding, but after that it was all a cherishing experience. “Aamir is so experienced and passionate that working with him is a director’s dream come true.”

Kiran’s all praises for Prateik too. “He has a raw inborn talent that is a rarity here.” But wasn’t she wary of her lead playing a dhobi? “Amitabh Bachchan played a coolie, so why can’t Prateik play a dhobi? My story is metaphorical too. My films will never be about herogiri, but about characters,” she signs off.