Kiran Rao reveals marrying Aamir Khan owing to parental pressure, calls marriage stifling

While normally exes don’t talk after parting ways, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan remain friends and co-parents to son Azad even after their divorce. The couple – who tied the knot in 2005 and parted ways in 2021, continued to be colleagues after their separation – they recently collaborated on Laapataa Ladies.

During a recent interview, Kiran got candid about her marriage to Aamir and why they tied the knot in the first place.

Kiran Rao on marrying Aamir Khan

While talking about marriage to She The People, Kiran Rao said, “I’ve always felt that (marriage as an institution is up for a rethink). Aamir and I lived together for a year before we got married. Honestly, we did it more because (of our) parents and you know… all the rest of it.” As reported by Hindustan Times, Kiran added, “Even at that time, we knew that it’s a great institution if you can function as individuals as well as a couple within that institution.”

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Kiran and Aamir met on the sets of Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama Lagaan, where she was an Assistant Director. They began dating in 2004 before tying the knot in 2005 and welcoming son Azad in 2011 via surrogacy.

Kiran: Marriage tends to stifle

The ‘Laapataa Ladies’ director continued, “The thing we don’t talk about enough is how marriage tends to stifle, especially women. How you could find perhaps a way to be yourself within the institution. That’s something up for debate and discussion. Esther Perel (American psychologist) has written an amazing book on it, and it’s very interesting. As apes, we were living together. This nuclear family setup is a pressure, and it’s a pressure, especially on women. There’s so much responsibility on the women to run the house, keep the family together. In fact, women are expected to keep in touch with the in-laws, be in touch with the husband’s family. That’s a lot of expectation.”

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Also Read: Did Kiran Rao take a dig at Sandeep Reddy Vanga in Laapataaa Ladies? Here’s why netizens think she did