Kiran Rao is an Indian film director, producer and writer. Her first feature film as director was Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries), which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2010. She has produced several popular Indian films such as  Dangal, Peepli Live, Delhi Belly, and Secret Superstar. In 2016, Rao co-founded Paani Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works towards combating drought in Maharashtra. Laapataa Ladies is her second feature film as director, which had its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, and a worldwide theatrical release in March 2024.