Dhobi Ghat looks at the city of Mumbai through the eyes of four characters and Aamir plays one of them, the painter Arun. Rao initially wanted to cast a new face but finally decided to let her superstar husband step in. In the picture: Director Kiran Rao with Kriti Malhorta, Prateik, Aamir Khan and Monica Dogra at the premiere of Dhobi Ghat at the Toronto International Film Festival. (Photo: AP)
Aamir Khan greets his fans at the premiere of his film Dhobi Ghat at the Toronto International Film Festival. The 45-year-old actor, who wowed the crowd here during the gala premiere, said that he was sceptical about the venture at first.
(Photo: AP)
When the script was finished for him to read, Khan pressed Kiran to go visit his cousin and they would all read it together, hoping that if both he and his cousin disliked it "at least I'd have numbers on my side".
"It's so delicate and beautiful. Her characters speak in such a different and unique voice, and all of that hit me and I thought, 'Wow I married a really talented woman here.' When I fell in love the first time, I didn't know how really talented she was. When I read the script I was really amazed and I fell in love with her again," gushed Khan.
Khan who along with Rao, his wife of five years, is here for the film's international premiere at the Toronto Film Festival said that he was "upset" by his wife's initial refusal to cast him in the project.(Photo:AP)
"Actually, this character is so crabby and unpleasant and one morning she saw me in my usual crabby self, and she said, 'You know you're perfect for the role,'" Khan said. And so how was it to be directed by his wife? "I felt like I was at home," Khan quipped.
Monica Dogra arrives for the premiere of his film Dhobi Ghat at the Toronto International Film Festival. (Photo: AP)
According to reports, the movie wowed the audiences with its artistry and fluidity. The film is Kiran Rao's directorial debut, with her husband Aamir Khan playing the lead role of a painter (Arun living in Bhendi Bazaar).
Set in the Mumbai monsoon season, the plot revolves around Shai's (Monica Dogra) feelings for Arun and Zohaib (Prateik) in the teeming metropolis. A beaming Kiran Rao introduced the cast to the audience before the start of the film. She said she was immensely pleased with her directorial debut and expected Dhobi Ghat to do well.
Kiran, who also wrote the script, called the story of the film delicate, and said she was pleased with the performance of her cast. Recalling her most difficult moments during the shooting, she said filming the crowded Eid scene on Mohammed Ali Road during Ramadan last year was one of those tough moments.
She said she had to surround herself with five security guards and Aamir had to hide his face under a helmet to reach the shooting spot near the illuminated mosque.
