Kiran Rao emphasizes humor in discussing ‘uncomfortable issues’ of women in Laapataa Ladies, noting the power of entertainment over lectures in cinema
Filmmaker Kiran Rao is thrilled to announce that her second directorial project, Laapataa Ladies, has been chosen as India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards. The film stars Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Pratibha Ranta, and follows the story of two brides who are mistakenly swapped during a train journey. Kiran emphasized the importance of incorporating humor when addressing sensitive issues faced by women in films, noting that audiences prefer entertainment over lectures.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024 in a session titled Take II: How Women are Redefining Indian Cinema, Kiran Rao shared her approach of using humor to tackle uncomfortable topics related to women in her films.
“We wanted to address these issues with humor because nobody wants a lecture at the movies. I truly believe that humor is a powerful tool to address difficult subjects,” said Rao.
Rao also emphasized the need for more female-centric films in Indian cinema, encouraging filmmakers to invest in projects led by women. She expressed her desire to create stories centered around complex female characters.
Explaining her inspiration behind Laapataa Ladies, Kiran Rao revealed that the story of two girls searching for freedom and a voice resonated with her. She focused on keeping the narrative authentic and relatable to ensure audience enjoyment and positive reception for her film.
Rao reflected on the success of casting newcomers in Laapataa Ladies, noting that it allowed audiences to immerse themselves in the film’s world without distractions.
After Laapataa Ladies was selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards, Kiran Rao expressed her gratitude and excitement, while Aamir Khan also shared his pride in the team’s achievement. The movie was chosen by a committee led by Assamese director Jahnu Barua.
In an interview with India Today, Nitanshi Goel, who played a key role in the film, shared how the team celebrated the milestone, including a virtual celebration in their WhatsApp group.
Co-produced by Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, Laapataa Ladies was released on March 1, 2024.
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