Kiran Rao says marriage can be ‘suffocating’, especially for women; opens up about divorce from Aamir Khan: ‘I knew that I needed my space’

Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, who amicably parted ways in 2021, after being married for 15 years, continue to maintain a strong friendship and professional partnership. Co-parenting their son Azad, the former couple was recently seen promoting Kiran’s directorial venture, Laapataa Ladies, bankrolled by Aamir’s production house. In a recent interview with Brut India, Kiran, who candidly spoke about her divorce from the Lagaan actor during the promotion of her recent film, spoke about her marriage and separation from Aamir. “Aamir and I lived together for about a year before we got married, and honestly, we did it more because of our parents. At that time too, we knew that it’s a great institution if you can function as an individual as well as a couple within that institution,” she shared. Kiran also highlighted how a marriage can have a negative impact on an individual where one is likely to feel trapped. She added, “I think the thing that we don’t talk about enough is how marriage tends to stifle, especially women. So, how do you know you could perhaps find a way to be more yourself within it, is I think something that is up for debate and discussion.” Sharing her own experience and how she dealt with it, she said she “took my sweet time so I didn’t have any worry about it.” She emphasised the role Aamir and their strong relationship played in helping her overcome the situation and deal with it better. “The thing is, Aamir and I were very strong and continue to have a very strong relationship as two humans. We are very connected to each other; we deeply respect and love each other, so that hasn’t changed, and so, therefore, I was not worried. I knew that I needed my space. I wanted to live independently, and I needed that to grow myself.”