PremiumKiran Rao opens up on her bond with Aamir Khan, says 'We understand each other in a way that goes beyond marital relationship’
Filmmaker Kiran Rao recently emphasised that her relationship with her ex-husband Aamir Khan extends beyond their marriage, stating that they continue to have a close creative bond.
Last Updated: 08.29 PM, Feb 13, 2024
Producer, director and screenwriter Kiran Rao is known for delivering some impactful cinema such as Peepli Live, Dhobi Ghat, Dangal and Secret Superstar, while collaborating with former husband Aamir Khan. Though Rao divorced Khan after a 16-year-old long marriage in 2021, the two continue to have a powerful bond beyond the societal norms for a previously married couple with a child. Her presence at the recent wedding of Aamir Khan’s daughter along with Aamir’s first wife Reena Dutta and son Junaid was proof enough of that.
Kiran recently stated that they continue to have a close creative bond, highlighting the fact that their love transcends marriage. In a conversation with Connect FM Canada, she added that the duo happens to be creatively very close and shares similar opinions on a variety of subjects.
“It came naturally to us because we started off working together, and even after we became partners, we continued working together. We understand each other in a way that goes beyond just the marital relationship,” she explained.
Highlighting the uniqueness of their bond further, Kiran quipped, “We had a very familial, honest relationship. That’s something that you can’t erase and you don’t want to because that’s the basis for our relationship.”
Interestingly, they did not even have any fallouts or ugly fights that are almost synonymous with married couples. They simply wanted an unconventional arrangement – to remain a family and yet – not be married. Hence, Kiran and Aamir made their own rules and redefined the relationship beyond social labels. “This just happens to be unusual for people, that two divorced individuals want to continue working together, live in the same building, have meals often, etc. I would not have been happy if the dissolution of our marriage had resulted in the end of our relationship,” Kiran mentioned further.
The director added that Aamir takes her views on films very seriously and has sought her opinion on many occasions. "I suppose since we think similarly on so many levels, I have also been able to influence him.” Aamir, the perfectionist, has believed in following his path but still takes Kiran’s creative opinions.
Kiran Rao also talked about her strong relationship with Aamir Khan, his first wife Reena, their daughter Ira, and other family members in a recent interview with The Week. Kiran said that they are inherently inclusive. During the conversation, she was quoted saying, “It’s something that we honestly didn’t have to think about. We are a family. In fact, we have Monday night dinners where we all get together.”
Kiran Rao pointed out that they also live in the same housing society with her mother-in-law staying upstairs, while Reena stays next door and Nuzhat (Aamir’s cousin) also being nearby.
While stating that she hangs out with Reena and Nuzhat, independently of Aamir too, she explained that it is because they ‘genuinely like each other as human beings’.
“These are relationships you shouldn’t lose if you get divorced. Aamir and I didn’t have an acrimonious divorce; we may have parted as a couple, but we are very much a family,” she added.