AR Rahman reacts after backlash for suggesting Hindi film industry has become communal: ‘Never wished to cause pain’ | Bollywood News

AR Rahman has clarified the intentions behind his recent remarks suggesting that the Hindi film industry may have become more “communal” in the last eight years. The Oscar-winning composer made this insinuation while confessing that he’s been getting less work because of a “power shift” in the Hindi music industry. On Sunday, Rahman took to Instagram to share a video statement, clarifying his stance.
“India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood. But my purpose has always been to uplift, honour and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain and I hope my sincerity is felt. I feel blessed to be Indian, which enables to create a space which always allows freedom of expression and celebrates multicultural voices,” said Rahman in the video.
He added, “From nurturing JHALAA, presented at the WAVES Summit in front of the honourable Prime Miner and Rooh-E-Noor, to collaborating with the young Naga musicians to create a string orchestra to mentoring the Sunshine Orchestra, and also building Secret Mountain, India’s first multicultural virtual band and the honour of scoring Ramayana alongside Hans Zimmer, each journey has strengthened my purpose.”
“I remain grateful to this nation and committed to music that honours the past, celebrates the present and inspires the future. Jai Hind and Jai Ho,” Rahman said at the conclusion of his message. The video ended with a cricket stadium singing in unison his 1997 seminal patriotic song “Vande Matram”.
Also Read – AR Rahman’s comment on film industry becoming ‘communal’ is ‘dangerous’, says Shobhaa De: ‘Religion is not a factor in getting work’

A.R.Rahman speaks out & responds with clarity.#ARRahman ❤ pic.twitter.com/0YiFOJMA2v
— A.R.Rahman News (@ARRahman_News) January 18, 2026
In the video, AR Rahman also led recent efforts undertaken him for the progress of India’s music landscape. He referred to JHALAA, a 12-member raga-based music ensemble which he mentored. The band performed in front of Prime Miner Narendra Modi at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai last year. Under his music label KM Musiq, Rahman launched an all-women music ensemble called Rooh-E-Noor, led his daughter Khatija Rahman.
He also cited the example of Sunshine Orchestra, a flagship project under the AR Rahman Foundation, which provides free Western classical music education to children from socioeconomically deprived classes. Rahman also mentioned Secret Mountain, an Artificial Intelligence-powered metahuman digital band conceived him last year.
Rahman is also co-composing the score and music for Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation of Indian epic the Ramayana. He’s collaborated with legendary Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer on the two-part project, starring Ranbir Kapor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol among others. Part 1 is slated to release in cinemas this Diwali.Story continues below this ad

Also Read — Kangana Ranaut calls AR Rahman most ‘hateful and prejudiced’: ‘You even refused to meet me for Emergency, called it propaganda’
Earlier this week, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, AR Rahman confessed that less work has been coming his way in the Hindi music industry. He attributed it to a power shift within the Hindi film industry in the last eight years and also perhaps to “a communal thing.”