The everyday and the extraordinary – Kiran Rao has mastered this blend. As a director and a storyteller, she can make films feel deeply personal and universally relatable, both at the same time. Her recent directorial vision, Laapataa Ladies is currently running its Oscar campaign as Lost Ladies.
Lost Ladies, a project close to Rao’s heart, delves into the intricacies of marriage and personal transformation. Through the film, she lifts the veil on stereotypes, revealing emotions and conflicts. It is a film where vulnerabilities and strengths co-exist. A film that speaks to women everywhere, focusing on themes of independence, love, and finding one’s identity.
Produced by Jio Studios and Aamir Khan Productions, the film takes audiences on a journey of marriage where “one of the characters finds that it’s not for her, but the other one feels that she will be more herself now within this partnership, after the journey she’s undertaken.”
As a director, her style is never heavy-handed. “We felt it was best done in the form of satire, in the form of a comedy of errors,” she explains. The film's success and its international reception are a testament to her journey as a director – brave, honest and above all, human.
With Lost Ladies making its way to the Oscars, Kiran Rao’s vision is resonating with global audiences. As she puts it, “I just hope that whatever time they spend watching my film, they feel it is well-spent, that they feel that they’ve in some way, not just enjoyed themselves, but maybe taken away some ideas, some images that will stay with them.”