Kiran Rao talks about being quite the unusual star wife to Aamir Khan. And yes, she also discusses Dhobi Ghat

For the past several days, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan have been on a media blitzkrieg.

The B-Town couple has their film Dhobi Ghat up for release this Friday. Time for the reticent actor-producer to open up and more so, because it his wife's directorial debut.



At his Khar office, his wired up staff hover around. There's no electricity and Kiran is feeling the heat as she slides the window panes open.

The constant buzz from the PC unit is worrying her and Aamir tries to fix it. He then settles to eat some stuff in a thali the kind that appears high in proteins and low in carbs.
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No porcelain chinaware for the star. Kiran fidgets with her earrings and finally removes them. No multiple carat diamonds just simple danglers for her as we begin with Kiran and Mr Perfectionist providing his views too...

Do you ever see yourself with all the strappings of a star wife? You are not part of any of the star wives group?
Kiran: Everyone is my friend. I like to be friendly with everyone.
Aamir: We don't believe in social distinctions.

Or being part of the social whirl with the latest must-haves...
K: No not at all, I am happy with my group of pals.
A: All that really does not matter with us.

Would you direct for an outside banner?
K: Right now, it is only Dhobi Ghat, I have not even thought of my next.
A: I wouldn't allow her (he tries to catch her neck). After all she owns the production house, so why would she?

You have been travelling for Dhobi Ghat's promotions, what kind of reactions have you been getting?
K: It has been extremely welcoming.
A: Women tell me: "Hum ko dekhna hai Kiran ne aap ko kaise direct kiya hai."

Aamir is famous for 'interfering' in the direction of the movies he acts in
K: Not really. Dhobi Ghat has turned out the way I had conceived it.
A: All I can say is that the film is exactly how it was in the script the way I had read it after she had completed writing it.

Why did you settle for fresh faces?
K: I could have taken known names. I could have taken an Irrfan Khan but then people have these fixed notions when there are known faces. That is why I preferred a new cast. I thought Prateik did a good job in Jaane Tu so he got on board, the rest were through the casting process.
A: It was entirely her idea including the decision to cast me.

You told Prateik to lie low till the film released.
K: Dhobi Ghat is going to be his film.
A: Like Jaane Tu was a launchpad for Imran, I similarly wanted to do something for Prateik. I am a great admirer of his mother, Smitaji. I did not get a chance to work with her so I thought I could do something for her sonu00a0 something she could be proud of. And I hope I have done that.

You are again playing an artist in Dhobi Ghat. In your directorial debut Taare Zameen Par you were an art teacher.
K: This is how I had conceived his character Arun. It suited the script.
A: It is not an extension of what I did in Taare Zameen Par. I play a cop in my next Reema Kagti's film and that is not an extension of what I did in Sarfarosh.

Your film is extremely Mumbaicentric. Would it appeal to the rest of India?
K: It is city-specific and what happens to these four characters living in a city. I have focused on the various aspects of Mumbai. There have been several films earlier based on Mumbai like Salaam Bombay, Satya but they emphasised one aspect of the city like the redlight areas, the underbelly but Dhobi Ghat takes a look at various aspects of Mumbai.
A: Even though the title is Dhobi Ghat, the film is not about it. It is only where one of the characters (Prateik) works.

There are a lot of expectations from an Aamir Khan production.
K: It is a subject distinct from all that has come from the banner. I hope people like it.
A: I know there is a certain expectation but we want the audience to see all kinds of cinema. It is an arthouse film.