“Two Oscars Can Be a Burden” AR Rahman Opens Up

Latest Bollywood News: For decades, AR Rahman has been the melody of the nation. From the rustic tunes of Roja to the global anthem Jai Ho, his music has defined Indian cinema. But during a candid conversation, the “Mozart of Madras” has shared that his journey hasn’t been as smooth as it looks. In fact, he admits that winning two Academy Awards has sometimes felt like a heavy cross to bear.

“They come and say, ‘In the 90s, you did Roja. That’s very good music, sir!”

Rahman said.

“That feels like now, you’re not doing good music, right? It actually harms your thinking if you’re not in your best mood.”

He revealed that this pressure to live up to his past and the “burden” of his Oscars pushed him into a “rampage” mode. To prove his talent wasn’t a relic of the past, he signed 20 to 30 movies between 2019 and 2025.

“I thought, what if I go on a rampage and keep doing movies, songs after songs? So I’m safe now. I’ve got enough for the next generation.”

The “Communal” Remarks

While his artistic struggle was internal, a much louder storm has brewed outside. In a separate interview with the BBC Asian Network, Rahman touched a raw nerve when he suggested that his religious identity might be costing him work in the Hindi film industry.

Reflecting on a “power shift” in Bollywood over the last eight years, he noted that non-creative people now hold the reins. When asked about the slowdown in his Hindi projects, he dropped a bombshell:

“It might be a communal thing also, but not in my face.”

He described a situation of “Chinese whispers,” where he would be booked for a project, only to find out later that the music company had hired five other composers instead. “I said, ‘Oh that’s great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family,'” he said, masking the sting with humor.

“Truth of India”: A Political Face-off

Rahman’s comments instantly ignited a political debate. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti stepped in to support the composer, calling his experience the “Truth of India.”

Her remarks came largely as a counter to veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, who had reportedly dismissed Rahman’s concerns. Mufti took to social media to argue that dismissing Rahman contradicted the “lived and shared realities of Indian Muslims.” She even pointed to the experiences of Akhtar’s own wife, Shabana Azmi, who has previously spoken about the difficulty of finding housing in Mumbai due to her faith.“Brushing aside such experiences does not change the truth about today’s India,” Mufti wrote, asserting that Bollywood is merely a mirror of the country’s social fractures.

“You Are Our Pride”

Amid the heated arguments and political finger-pointing, a moment of warmth came from veteran actor Paresh Rawal. Known for his sharp wit and often politically charged social media presence, Rawal chose to bypass the latest entertainment news controversy and focus on the artist.

Reacting to a video of Rahman, Rawal simply wrote, “We love you sir. You are our pride.” The brief message stood out as a reminder of Rahman’s unifying legacy in a week dominated by division.

A Note of Peace

As the debate raged on, Rahman himself stepped forward to lower the temperature. In a video message featuring his iconic song Maa Tujhe Salaam, he clarified that he never intended to cause pain.

“India is my inspiration, my teacher, and my home,” he said, emphasizing that his purpose has always been to uplift people through music. He pointed to his current work on Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana—where he, a Muslim, is collaborating with Hans Zimmer, a Jew, to tell a Hindu epic—as proof that art transcends boundaries.

For now, Rahman seems ready to move past the noise. “It’s a fresh start, 2026,” he declared.

“No Oscar, no Grammy, nothing in my bio. Just the music.”