Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announce divorce after 15 years of marriage

Actor Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have announced that they are no longer husband and wife. In a joint statement issued Saturday, the couple said they began a planned separation some time ago and now feel comfortable to formalize the arrangement of living separately. They, however, said that they will continue sharing lives the way an extended family does. 

Full statement:

In these 15 beautiful years together we have shared a lifetime of experiences, joy and laughter, and our relationship has only grown in trust, respect and love. Now we would like to begin a new chapter in our lives - no longer as husband and wife, but as co-parents and family for each other. We began a planned separation some time ago, and now feel comfortable to formalise this arrangement, of living separately yet sharing our lives the way an extended family does. We remain devoted parents to our son Azad, who we will nurture and raise together. We will also continue to work as collaborators on films, Paani Foundation, and other projects that we feel passionate about. A big thank you to our families and friends for their constant support and understanding about this evolution in our relationship, and without whom we would not have been so secure in taking this leap. We request our well wishers for good wishes and blessings, and hope that - like us - you will see this divorce not as an end, but as the start of a new journey.

Khan, 56, and Rao, 47, first met on the sets of the actor's 2001 blockbuster movie "Lagaan" and got married in December 2005. They welcomed their son Azad Rao Khan in December 2011.

Khan will be next seen in "Laal Singh Chadha", an official Hindi remake of Tom Hanks' acclaimed movie "Forrest Gump". The film is being produced by Rao, who has also backed several others films, including "Dangal" and "Secret Superstar".