Friday, November 5, 2010

Kiran Rao - Aamir Khan


Kiran Rao
Short Bio
Unlike all the other individuals mentioned on our list, Kiran Rao's role is more behind the camera than in front of it. She started her career as an assistant director on various television commercials and in the year 2000, she moved into the feature film space as an assistant director for Aamir Khan's Productions' first presentation - 'Lagaan'. Fortuitous? Absolutely! And in more ways than one! Little did she know that not only was she associating herself with what would go on to be an Oscar nominated film, she was also about to meet the love of her life and the man she was going to marry - heartthrob, brilliant actor and superstar Aamir Khan.
In December 2005, Kiran and Aamir got married in a private ceremony in Panchagani in Maharashtra. Six months later, they also celebrated with a reception in Bangalore, from where Kiran's family hails.
Today, the couple enjoys being married to each other, as well as working side by side on in-house productions such as 'Taare Zameen Par' and 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na'. Kiran will soon be seen directing Aamir in her first directorial venture, 'Dhobi Ghaat'. Wife telling husband exactly how to behave? Sounds about right!
Aamir Khan
Short Bio
Technically Aamir Khan started his career as a child actor in his uncle's 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat', but it was only when he burst into our lives strumming the guitar and singing "Papa kehte hain" in 1988's 'Qayamat se Qayamat Tak' that the nation developed a collective crush on him.
More than 20 years later, the crush has now solidified into a solid love affair, accented by respect and awe and today Aamir is considered one of the finest actors our cinema has produced.
Early on it was clear that Aamir's romantic streak spread beyond just his films. As a young lad he fell in love with his neighbour Reena Dutta and married her soon after turning 21, much against the wishes of both their families. The marriage produced two children and lasted 16 years, ending in divorce, in 2002. The intensely private Khan refused to divulge any details of his personal life, although that did not stop the media from speculating. These speculations were heightened by the shocking claim that British writer Jessica Hines had produced a love child called Jaan Harry Hines with Aamir in 2003. As always he remained tight lipped about the whole controversy and it gradually died down.
However, the rumour mills were not going to stay silent for long when it came to a handsome and unattached star like Aamir and soon after, reports of his romance with a young assistant director began to surface. This time though, he did more than just confirm the dalliance; he went ahead and got married to his lady love - Kiran Rao - in 2005.
Aamir and Kiran had met on the sets of his magnum opus 'Lagaan' and a little mental math will reveal that Aamir was technically still married to Reena at the time (She was one of the producers of the film actually). Exactly when the affair began and what his marital status was at the time still remains a little murky, but all that is in the past now!
Selected Filmography: Kiran Rao (2000-2009)
2001: 'Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India': Enters the film world as an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker, also meets her future husband, the star of the film Aamir Khan. The film goes on to get nominated for an Academy Award.
2001: 'Monsoon Wedding': Plays second assistant director to Mira Nair's lively take on Indian weddings.
2004: 'Swades: We, the People': Teams up again with Ashutosh Gowariker in this tale about an NRI, played by Shahrukh Khan, returning home.
2007: 'Taare Zameen Par': Is the associate producer on Aamir Khan's home production and directorial debut about a dyslexic child.
2008: 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na': Delivers another hit as associate producer on Abbas Tyrewala's tale of young love, starring Aamir Khan's nephew Imran Khan and the bubbly Genelia D'Souza.
Famous Duets
Like many other filmy couples, Aamir and Kiran also fell in love while working together. The story-mein-twist though was the fact that Aamir was the mammoth star of the film, while Kiran was just an assistant director.
2001: 'Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India': A momentous film, for many reasons: Aamir Khan's first production, Kiran's first feature film assignment, a nomination for the best foreign film at the Oscars and the beginning of a love story.
2007: 'Taare Zameen Par': Aamir's directorial debut had wife Kiran playing the role of assistant producer.
Love Speak
"My working with Aamir was pretty accidental. I am not from a filmy family. A friend of mine who was working with Aamir's 'Lagaan' asked me if I would like to work as part of the team, and I agreed. Prior to that, I must have watched, like, ten Hindi movies in my life. I didn't know much about Hindi films at all. And one of the films she did know about was 'Rangeela'. QSQT was the first complete Hindi film I ever watched, as a young adult. I must have been about 14 then. I'll never forget that because, it was the first movie I watched on our new VCR." Kiran Rao on her serendipitous association with Lagaan and Aamir.
'So Kiran and I are away from home, in one very quiet spot, just lying in and resting. Reading, going for walks, watching films,' Aamir Khan on his blog, talking about the couple spending some away time shortly after Kiran tragically miscarried their first child.

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