Director Kiran Rao chose to cast Ravi Kishan over her ex-husband, Aamir Khan, in her upcoming comedy-drama Laapataa Ladies. As revealed by Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, the decision shed light on the dynamism of casting and the film’s creative process.
Aamir Khan’s stardom would disbalance Laapataa Ladies, director Kiran Rao reveals
In Bollywood, where star-studded casts often steal the limelight, the decision to cast relatively fresh faces in a film is a bold one. Kiran Rao made such a choice by not casting acclaimed actor Aamir Khan in her upcoming movie, Laapataa Ladies.
In a recent conversation, Khan disclosed the behind-the-scenes story of his potential role in Laapataa Ladies. He said, “The story was really good, and there was a very good character in it. I thought I would offer this story to Kiran, she might like it. I wanted to do a role in the film.”
However, Kiran had reservations about casting a renowned star in her relatively modest film. The actor still gave a screen test, and the duo liked it, but the concern persisted. Aamir recounted, “We both feared that if I come as a star, people will have expectations. We felt that I should not be in the film in any case.” The director further explained that avoiding established stars was driven by the desire to keep the suspense alive until the end.
Despite not having a star-studded cast, the film is making waves globally. Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies has been selected as the opening film of The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Summer Festival. The movie had already garnered attention at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with a standing ovation.
Laapataa Ladies revolves around two young brides separated during a train journey in 2001. It features Ravi Kishan, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Chhaya Kadam in lead roles. The film will release in theaters on March 1, 2024.
