Despite the luxe baggage of marrying a Bollywood A-lister, Rao has carved out a niche as one of India's few mainstream female directors. Because in an industry where scripts are written for men, by men and directed by men, she's created a space for unconventional plot-lines with her directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat (2010). Because the film was a critical success and considered for a nomination in the best non-English film category at the 2012 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.