PremiumKiran Rao on not casting Aamir Khan in Laapataa Ladies – “Everybody would want him on the red carpet” | Exclusive
Aamir Khan had auditioned to play a pivotal part is Laapataa Ladies but Kiran Rao felt it was not the right thing to do.
Last Updated: 04.37 PM, Mar 08, 2024
It’s been exactly a week since the release of Laapataa Ladies, a movie that discusses women and the challenges they face in a society where gender is often looked down upon. The film, with its slice-of-life tone, presents a heartfelt story that doesn’t diminish the opposite gender but rather initiates a meaningful conversation. Director Kiran Rao, returning to the director’s chair after 13 long years, has been actively promoting the movie. She recently joined OTTplay for an exclusive chat, where she discussed rejecting Aamir Khan and the decision not to cast a star in her movie.
For those unaware, Aamir is the producer of Laapataa Ladies and is presenting the movie through his production house, Aamir Khan Productions. Interestingly, during the initial casting phase, Aamir auditioned for a role in the movie, specifically the part of Manohar, the police inspector, which is played by the talented Ravi Kishan. However, Rao and Khan ultimately decided against having Aamir play the role, despite his brilliant audition.
In an exclusive conversation with us, Kiran Rao discussed the decision to reject Aamir Khan for the role of Manohar in Laapataa Ladies and its implications for the film. When asked if she ever felt the movie needed a star and how challenging it is to sell a movie without one, Kiran said, “You know, it was obviously a very big decision when Aamir (Khan) said he wanted to play Manohar and he tested for the role. He did a great audition. And to actually make the decision not to cast Aamir was a significant one for both Aamir and me.”
She continued, “Because it would really impact the box office collections. It would affect how the film is received worldwide because once Aamir is in the lead, it suddenly becomes a film that everyone wants to feature on the red carpet, in festivals, or in their cities, and everywhere else.”
In response to whether she felt Laapataa Ladies needed a star for promotion, Kiran Rao said, “So, it was a decision that required us to consider what the film needs. And this film really didn't need stars because it's a simple story about everyday, mundane, ordinary people. But it needed actors who would make the story authentic and believable and who could defy expectations.”
Kiran Rao added, “Whether it's a hero or a villain, we wanted to maintain the surprise and unpredictability of these characters. So, we decided not to cast stars. It was a significant decision, and while it may have impacted the box office, I stand by it. I believe the film demonstrates why we made that decision.”
Laapataa Ladies features stellar performers including Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan, Geeta Aggarwal Sharma, and an ensemble cast. The movie is currently in theaters near you. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.