Kiran Rao confesses she married Aamir Khan due to parental pressure: 'Marriage tends to stifle...'

Filmmaker Kiran Rao opened up about her marriage with actor Aamir Khan and shared that they tied the knot due to parental pressure.

In an interview with She The People, Kiran Rao shared she was living with Aamir a year before their marriage, and her parents, traditional and deeply rooted in their cultural values, were keen on seeing her settle down. The pressure mounted as she pursued her career in the film industry that left her parents anxious about her future stability.

‘I've always felt that (marriage as an institution is up for a rethink). Aamir and I lived together for a year before we got married honestly, we did it more because parents and you know… all the rest of it and even at that time we knew that it’s a great institution if you can function as individuals as well as a couple within that institution,’ said Kiran.

‘The thing we don't talk about enough is how marriage tends to stifle, especially women. How you could find perhaps a way to be yourself within the institution. That's something up for debate and discussion. Esther Perel (American psychologist) has written an amazing book on it, and it's very interesting. As apes, we were living together. This nuclear family setup is a pressure, and it's a pressure especially on women. There's so much responsibility on the women to run the house, keep the family together. In fact, women are expected to keep in touch with the in-laws, to be in touch with your husband's family. That's a lot of expectation,’ Kiran added.

About Kiran and Aamir’s marriage

Aamir and Kiran’s marriage which lasted for 15 years was based on mutual respect and various collaborative projects, like 'Dhobi Ghaat’, which was directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan. Together they navigated through the complexities of personal and professional lives, raising their son Azad with shared values.

Kiran's revelation highlights the unspoken compromises that carve our choices, reminding us that even in perfect unions, there can be underlying struggles and sacrifices.

While Kiran and Aamir parted ways, their journey reveals the complexities of modern relationships. Kiran is often spotted with the Khan family. She also attended the wedding of Aamir’s daughter Ira.

Aamir shares his daughter Ira Khan with his first wife Reena Dutta.

Aamir Khan’s work front

Aamir will be next seen in ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ with Genelia Deshmukh. The duo is collaborating with RS Prasanna for the social-comedy drama.