Kiran on Aamir's role as producer of Laapataa Ladies

Kiran Rao directorial '

Laapataa Ladies

' made India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. Produced by Aamir Khan, in a recent AMA session on Reddit, Kiran Rao addressed questions about the 'Dangal' actor's involvement in her films, particularly regarding his role as a producer.
Kiran Rao was asked, "How much direction is done by Amir when he’s involved in a film. Especially your films because both are his own production films." She clarified that while Aamir is a supportive producer who participates in key decisions such as casting and editing, he maintains a "hands-off" approach when it comes to directing. Kiran also added that Aamir does not even visit the set during filming.
She replied, "he is a really supportive producer – gets involved with key decisions such as casting and edit, but otherwise is pretty hands off, he doesn’t even come to set!"
Interestingly, at a screening of the film, Aamir Khan revealed that he desired to play a role in 'Laapataa Ladies'. He auditioned for the character of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar, which ultimately went to Ravi Kishan. Despite his enthusiasm and a strong screen test, Kiran felt that casting Aamir could shift the film's balance, given his star power. She explained that having him in the role might lead audiences to expect more from the character than what was intended, which could detract from the film's overall story.

In addition to discussing Aamir's role, Kiran also shared insights into their personal relationship. When asked about Aamir as a person, she described him as "cool," noting that he tells great stories and makes her laugh.
Another topic of interest during the AMA was the film's title change from 'Laapataa Ladies' to 'Lost Ladies' for international audiences. Kiran explained that this decision was made to enhance recall value during the Oscar campaign, as they had initially used the English title at the

Toronto International Film Festival

(TIFF).
'Laapataa Ladies', featuring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Ravi Kishan, is a light-hearted satire of patriarchy that tells the story of two brides who accidentally swap places during a train journey.