AR Rahman’s comment on ‘communal’ bias in Bollywood work sparks controversy; BJP and VHP respond

A remark by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman suggesting that a “communal” factor may have contributed to a slowdown in his Bollywood work over the past eight years has sparked sharp reactions from the BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

In a recent interview with the BBC Asian Network, Rahman said he had been receiving fewer offers in Hindi cinema and attributed this to a “power shift” within the industry. He added that people “who are not creative” now had the power to make decisions and suggested that the change “might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face.”

Reacting to the comments, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy dismissed the suggestion that religion had played a role in Rahman’s career slowdown, calling it “absolutely false.” Quoted by ANI, Reddy said the country had always supported Rahman and regarded him as one of India’s top music directors, adding that “people have never seen Rahman through the lens of religion.”

The VHP also criticised the composer, with national spokesperson Vinod Bansal accusing him of unfairly linking his lack of work to communal reasons. Bansal said Rahman had been widely loved by audiences across the country and alleged that he was “badmouthing the system” instead of introspecting about the reasons behind fewer projects.

Bansal’s remarks included controversial comments on Rahman’s religious identity, drawing further attention to the issue.

In the interview, Rahman clarified that he was not actively seeking work and preferred projects to come to him organically. He said he often heard about missed opportunities through intermediaries and reiterated that he did not face prejudice when he entered Bollywood in the 1990s. However, he said the past eight years felt different due to changes in who holds power in the industry.

Rahman, 59, also noted that he was the first composer from the south to establish and sustain a successful career in Bollywood, and maintained that his focus remained on sincerity in work rather than chasing assignments.