New Delhi: AR Rahman’s recent interview on BBC Asian Network has raised a lot of eyebrows within the Indian music industry. He was asked if people in the film industry face discrimination.
“Maybe I never got to know about this. Maybe it was concealed, but I didn’t feel any of this. Maybe in the past eight years, because a power shift has happened and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also but it is not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their 5 composers. I say good, I have more time to chill with my family,” Rahman replied.
“I am not in search for work. I don’t want to go in search for work. I want work to come to me; my sincerity to earn work. Whatever I deserve, I get.”
While some say that the composer’s response may have been misinterpreted, industry professionals have plenty to say about his response.
“Let’s face the truth–a mid-range director can either afford a Rahman or a big star, not both. He has become almost unapproachable with his fees, and also his tours,” said a Bollywood music producer.
Rahman, in the interview, mentioned the amount of work coming his way from Bollywood in the past eight years. Along with Chhaava (2025), he last composed music for the Anand L Rai directorial film Tere Ishk Mein, which was a commercial blockbuster. And before that, And before that, he composed the songs for Maidaan and Amar Singh Chamkila in 2024 and for Pippa and Animal in 2023.
“People may think that he has become very busy in the West. They may think that his shows are very big. He spends a lot of time in those shows. So, he may not be available for us. But I don’t think there is any communal element in this,” said Akhtar.
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Lagaan to Chhaava
The 86-minute interview had Rahman talk about his upcoming project Ramayana—where he shares the composer’s role with Hans Zimmer—and the success of Chhaava.
“It is a divisive film. I think it cashed in on divisiveness, but I think the core of it is to show bravery,” said the 59-year-old composer and singer. Chhaava was one of the biggest hits of 2025, but had also led to communal unrest in parts of Maharashtra.
Rahman also talked about increased corporatisation in Bollywood and how creative decisions are being taken by those who do not have much idea about the craft. “If sincerity doesn’t bring work, I don’t believe in going and sitting in offices,” said Rahman.
But some industry insiders believe it’s a different issue altogether.
“See, like the star value of an actor, there is now hit-value for a composer and singer. What is happening is other big South composers are coming up–Anirudh Ravichander is the hottest thing right now, be it The Ba***ds of Bollywood or Jawan (2023). There is also Thaman S. Rahman is now seen as more millennial by those who want a more peppy album,” said a playback singer who has previously worked with Rahman.
AR Rahman’s first full-fledged Hindi film was Rangeela (1995), which also marked the debut of Ram Gopal Varma, actor Urmila Matondkar and designer Manish Malhotra in Bollywood.
But he had earlier composed the music for the dubbed version of Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film Roja (1992). After Rangeela, Rahman did Dil Se.. (1998) and Taal (1999), becoming a composer who could belt out soulful numbers and make a film album a hit.
Shaan, who has worked with Rahman in Lagaan (2001) and Saathiya (2002), also shared his viewpoint about the matter.
“Music does not work that way. If that were the case, then even our three superstars of the last 30 years, who you could say also belong to minorities, would not have continued to grow. That’s not how it is. Do good work, make good music, and don’t overthink these things,” said the singer.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)