AR Rahman recently said he sometimes receives fewer work offers in Bollywood and suggested that, at times, the reason might be a possible communal angle, though never stated directly to him.
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Bollywood’s music world is buzzing again, and this time the spotlight is on legendary composer AR Rahman and singer-composer Salim Merchant.
The conversation started after Rahman spoke about possibly getting fewer work opportunities in Bollywood. His comment sparked heated discussions online.
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Now, Salim Merchant has stepped into the debate and his response has added a fresh twist to the story.
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In an exclusive chat with IANS, Salim Merchant shared his honest reaction to Rahman’s claim. While he respected Rahman’s experience, he said he personally does not believe communal bias is the reason behind the situation.
Salim explained that Rahman might have his own experiences that led him to say what he did. But from his perspective, things look different.
According to Salim, if Rahman is composing music for Ramayana, which is being described as one of the biggest films ever made on Indian mythology, it becomes difficult to believe that the industry is biased against him.
Salim said that a composer working on such a massive project based on a Hindu epic clearly shows there is no communal barrier in the industry, at least in his opinion.
The controversy began when Rahman spoke to BBC Asian Network about why he sometimes receives fewer projects in Bollywood.
The Oscar-winning composer said that today many decision-makers in the industry are people who are not necessarily creative. These individuals often decide which composers get hired for films.
Rahman added that sometimes he hears through “Chinese whispers”, indirect conversations in the industry, that he was initially chosen for a project but later replaced by several other composers hired by the music company.
He even suggested that the situation ‘might’ have a communal angle, although he admitted that no one ever said it directly to his face.
Rahman also reacted to such situations with a calm attitude. He joked that if someone else gets the work, it simply means he gets more time to relax and spend with his family.
Soon after the interview went viral, the remarks sparked backlash on social media. Some people misunderstood his comments and felt he was accusing the industry of discrimination.
To address the criticism, Rahman released a video explaining his intentions.
He said music has always been his way of celebrating culture and connecting people. India, he added, has always been his inspiration, his teacher and his home.
Rahman also said that sometimes words can be misunderstood, but his goal has always been to uplift and honour cultures through his music. He stressed that he never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings.
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