Superstar Aamir Khan and his ex-wife, filmmaker Kiran Rao, recently had a meaningful discussion with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud following a special screening of their acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies at the Supreme Court. Held on Friday, this screening was part of a gender sensitisation initiative and was attended by several Supreme Court judges.
Aamir shared that his motivation to produce Laapataa Ladies was driven by both “fear and desire.” Reflecting on his career, he noted, “During COVID, at 56, I realized I’m in the final phase of my career. I might have around 15 years left of active work, and I wanted to give back. The industry, society, and country have given me so much. I thought I could produce one film a year, but as a producer, I could support multiple stories I care about.”
Known for his focus on socially relevant cinema, Aamir expressed his dedication to fostering new talent in filmmaking. “By producing, I can create opportunities for new writers, directors, and other creatives. Laapataa Ladies is the first step in this direction. I aim to produce four to five films a year to showcase more such innovative work,” he explained.
Chief Justice Chandrachud also asked about the film’s inspiration. Kiran Rao revealed that it all started with an original script by Biplab Goswami, which Aamir discovered during a Screen Writers Association competition in 2020. They decided to acquire the rights and add more humor to the script. “The journey was long and uncertain due to industry changes,” Kiran noted.
Despite suggestions to release the film directly on OTT platforms, they opted for a theatrical release. “The film has been well-received by audiences, and I’m pleased we brought it to cinemas,” Kiran said.
Laapataa Ladies is about two newlywed brides who are accidentally switched during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. The film had a modest box office performance but achieved even greater success on Netflix, breaking several viewership records.