‘Sometimes I Wish I Was Rohit Shetty’: Kiran Rao Opens Up About Long Gaps Between Films

Filmmaker Kiran Rao made her comeback as a director in 2024 with Laapataa Ladies. She has now opened up about her desire to make films more frequently and avoid another lengthy gap between projects.

Kiran Rao, who returned to the director's chair after 13 years, recently spoke about her creative journey and future ambitions. Reflecting on the long break between Dhobi Ghat and Laapataa Ladies, she said that directing is something she has always wanted to continue doing consistently.

Kiran Rao's Opinion on Rohit Shetty's Pace

"Every filmmaker wants to move from one project to the next," she said in an interview with Variety India. "Sometimes I wish I had Rohit Shetty's pace. He seems to be editing one film, directing another, and promoting a third all at the same time. If I had that level of confidence and worried less about outcomes, I'd probably make a lot more movies."

What Slows Down Kiran Rao's Filmmaking Process

Kiran also explained what occupies most of her time and ultimately leads to delays in her projects. According to her, she is extremely careful about storytelling and often questions whether a project is worth pursuing and whether the story genuinely deserves to be told.

"I tend to be very particular about the viability of a film, the narrative, and what I want to communicate through it," she shared. "Films require enormous resources, and I feel a responsibility to be thoughtful about the projects I take on."

Kiran Rao's Upcoming Projects

Despite her cautious approach, Kiran revealed that she currently has several ideas in development. She disclosed that she is working on four or five different concepts, including a supernatural horror film, a noir-inspired story, and another comedy-drama that carries some of the warmth and charm that audiences appreciated in Laapataa Ladies.

Kiran Rao's Journey as a Filmmaker

Kiran made her directorial debut in 2011 with Dhobi Ghat. The film starred Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, and Aamir Khan, and received widespread critical acclaim, although its box-office performance remained modest.

More than a decade later, she returned with Laapataa Ladies. Featuring Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Srivastava, and Ravi Kishan, the film received immense appreciation from audiences. It was widely praised for its storytelling and performances and was also selected as India's official entry for the Academy Awards.

The film's impact grew significantly after its arrival on Netflix in 2025, reaching a much wider audience than it did during its theatrical run.

Rohit Shetty's Upcoming Project

Rohit Shetty continues to maintain the fast-paced filmmaking schedule that Kiran admires. His most recent directorial venture, Singham Again (2024), featured Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor.

The filmmaker is currently busy with the production of the latest instalment of the popular comedy franchise, Golmaal 5. The film reportedly stars Ajay Devgn, Sharman Joshi, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu, Shreyas Talpade, and Akshay Kumar.

On the occasion of Rohit Shetty's birthday, Akshay Kumar expressed his excitement about the project by sharing a glimpse of his character. He posted a photo showcasing a striking bald look and captioned it: "Happy Birthday, Rohit Shetty! The madness has become even bigger and louder this time. Excited to join the crazy family of Golmaal 5. Let the chaos begin."