With 'Laapata Ladies' making waves as India's official Oscar entry, the spotlight shines brightly on Kiran Rao, a creative force to be reckoned with in Indian cinema. As a director and producer, Rao has consistently pushed boundaries, exploring complex themes and nuanced storytelling.

From her critically acclaimed directorial debut 'Dhobi Ghat' to producing groundbreaking films like 'Peepli Live', Rao's diverse filmography showcases her unique vision and commitment to innovative storytelling.

As we celebrate her latest achievement, let's take a closer look at some of Kiran Rao's most remarkable works, cementing her position as a pioneering filmmaker in contemporary Indian cinema.

‘Peepli Live’ (2010):

Directed by Anusha Rizvi, Peepli Live is a satirical comedy that throws light on the issue of farmer suicides in India while also showing the response of media and politicians over it. Backed by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao under the banner Aamir Khan Productions, ‘Peepli Live’ was sent as India’s official entry for the 83rd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category. It starred Omkar Das Manikpuri, Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, among others.

‘Dhobhi Ghat’ (2011):

Before stepping up as a director, Rao had assisted filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker on ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Swades.’ But her directorial debut came with ‘Dhobhi Ghat’ which starred Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, and Kriti Malhotra in the leading roles. A critical success, it featured in the 65th BAFTA Awards longlist under the Best Film Not in the English Language category.

‘Dangal’ (2016):

One of the most successful sports biographical dramas, Dangal, was also jointly produced by Aamir Khan Productions along with Siddharth Roy Kapur. Based on the lives of Mahavir Singh Phogat who trained his daughter Geeta and Babita to become world class female wrestlers, ‘Dangal’ was a huge commercial and critical success. It starred Khan as Mahavir, while Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra marked their acting debuts as the two Phogat sisters - Geeta and Babita, respectively. 

‘Secret Superstar’ (2017):

After making her debut as young Geeta Phogat in ‘Dangal,’ Zaira Waseem, then-child actor, starred in ‘Secret Superstar’ directed by Advait Chandan. She appeared alongside Khan in the film. Released in October 2017, ‘Secret Superstar’ went on to become a huge commericial success. Made on a small budget of Rs. 15 crore, it minted over Rs. 900 crore, becoming one of the most successful Indian films of all time.