Kiran Rao is clearly in no mood to wait another 13 years before her next directorial outing. After making a stunning comeback with 2024’s Laapataa Ladies, the filmmaker has opened up about her desire to work at a much faster pace — and even name-dropped one of Bollywood’s most prolific directors as her inspiration.
The Rohit Shetty Dream
In a candid chat, Kiran admitted she envies the relentless work ethic of Rohit Shetty, who seems to have a conveyor belt of films running at all times. Obviously, I want to just keep directing. Every director just wants to go from film to film. I wish I were Rohit Shetty. Like, literally, while he’s editing one film, he’s directing the next film and promoting the third,
she shared. Adding a touch of self-awareness, she said, If I had the confidence to just do that and not be so worried about the outcome, I would make many more films.
Rao’s last directorial feature before Laapataa Ladies was the 2011 drama Dhobi Ghat. The long hiatus had left fans wondering if she ever felt the itch to return to the director’s chair. Now, she’s making it clear that she wants to be more prolific — Rohit Shetty style.
The Cautious Storyteller
But don’t expect Kiran to suddenly start churning out films at breakneck speed. The filmmaker revealed that her hesitation often comes from a deep sense of responsibility. But I’m almost too careful about the viability of a project, the story and what I want to say. This is something that everyone should think about because films take a lot of resources; they’re not just nothing. I try to be mindful of that,
she explained. Still, she quickly added, But yes, I’d love to make many more films.
That cautious-yet-ambitious approach seems to be the perfect recipe for a director who wants quality over quantity. After all, Laapataa Ladies won hearts and critical acclaim — proof that taking your time can pay off.
A Packed Creative Slate
While Kiran may take her time, she’s certainly not sitting idle. The filmmaker revealed that she is currently working on a whopping four to five projects simultaneously, each exploring a completely different genre. One is a supernatural horror film, another is a noir thriller, and there’s also a comedy-drama that shares the same storytelling warmth as Laapataa Ladies.
With such a diverse lineup, it looks like Kiran Rao is ready to prove that she can be just as versatile as her idol Rohit Shetty — albeit with her own careful, thoughtful spin. Fans can expect some exciting announcements soon.