Updated On: 05 February, 2026 02:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
AR Rahman clarified his “communal bias” remark after facing backlash, saying his intentions were misunderstood and he never meant to offend. Urging people to move forward, he emphasised that music connects cultures and added that those who know him do not need explanations

AR Rahman
Oscar winning composer AR Rahman has responded to the controversy sparked by his recent comments suggesting there may be “communal” bias in the Hindi film industry. Addressing the backlash, the music maestro urged people not to overinterpret his words and stressed that he never intended to hurt anyone.
Rahman’s earlier remarks had drawn criticism after he appeared to connect his relatively limited work in Bollywood over the past eight years to shifting power dynamics within the industry. Reflecting on the situation, he said, “Maybe I never get to know of this, maybe it was concealed… but the past eight years, maybe because the power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also…” The statement quickly triggered debate online, with some questioning his claim while others defended his perspective.