People Who Aren’t Creative Have Power In Bollywood: AR Rahman Triggers Controversy

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has revealed that he has seen a steady decline in work in the Hindi film industry over the past eight years, attributing it to changing power dynamics within Bollywood rather than a lack of creative drive. His comments have triggered a controversy.

In a candid interview with BBC Asian Network, the legendary musician said he believes decision-making has increasingly moved away from creative hands, impacting the kind of opportunities that come his way.

"Maybe in the past eight years, because a power shift has happened and people who are not creative have the power now," Rahman said, adding that the reasons are never explicit. "It might be a communal thing also... but it is not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers."

Despite being one of Indian cinema's most celebrated composers, Rahman said he has made peace with this quieter phase of his Bollywood journey. He stressed that he has never chased projects and continues to believe that sincerity and honesty in art should naturally attract work.

'I'm Not in Search for Work'

Rahman pointed to the changing nature of Bollywood music production, where albums are increasingly split among multiple composers, often driven by commercial urgency rather than artistic cohesion.

"They booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers," he said, referring to the growing trend of multi-composer albums. "I say good, I have more time to chill with my family. I am not in search for work. I don't want to go in search for work. I want work to come to me; my sincerity to earn work. Whatever I deserve, I get."

Studied In Brahmin School

AR Rahman said Indian epics were an integral part of his upbringing and formal education. He recalled studying in a Brahmin school where the Ramayana and Mahabharata were taught every year, giving him a deep familiarity with their narratives.

"I know the story," Rahman said, stressing that for him, the true essence of these epics lies in their moral foundation. "It's about virtue, higher ideals and values. People may argue over interpretations, but I focus on the good-anything meaningful that can be learned from them."

Rahman also spoke about the importance of approaching knowledge without bias or prejudice, drawing from spiritual teachings. "The Prophet has said that knowledge is invaluable, no matter where it comes from-a king, a beggar, a good act or even a bad one. You can't shy away from things," he explained.

Urging people to broaden their perspective, the composer said society needs to rise above narrow thinking and self-interest. "We have to elevate ourselves from small-mindedness and selfishness. When we elevate, we become radiant-and that's very important," he said.

Rahman, born Dileep Kumar Rajagopala in Madras, embraced Islam in 1989.

Addressing the polarising reactions around Chhaava, Rahman acknowledged its divisive perception but defended its intent. "It is a divisive film. It may have cashed in on that, but at its core, it is about bravery," he said. He also revealed that he had initially questioned his own involvement. "I asked the director why he needed me for this film, and he told me, 'We need only you,'" Rahman recalled.

Despite the debates surrounding the film, Rahman expressed strong faith in audiences. "It's an enjoyable film, but people are smarter than we think. They have an internal conscience that knows the difference between truth and manipulation," he said.

Calling it an honour to be associated with a film centred on Sambhaji Maharaj, Rahman said the character holds deep emotional significance. "Chhaava is one of the most celebrated figures-it's like the blood of every Maratha," he noted. He also spoke about the film's emotional resonance, particularly its closing moments. "When the film ends and the poetry is recited, it's very moving. I'm honoured to have scored a film that carries the pulse and soul of every Maratha."

Feeling Like an Outsider in Hindi Cinema

Rahman also spoke about feeling like an outsider in Bollywood for much of his career, even after delivering landmark albums. Though he entered Hindi cinema with Mani Ratnam's Roja in 1991 and followed it up with Bombay and Dil Se.., acceptance, he said, was slow.

"Actually, I was still an outsider with these three," Rahman said. "But Taal became a household album. It entered the kitchens of everybody."

The 1999 Subhash Ghai film became a cultural moment, helping Rahman connect more deeply with North Indian audiences and marking a turning point in his Hindi film journey.

Language, Rahman said, was one of his biggest challenges in Bollywood. Coming from Tamil cinema, he initially struggled to integrate.

"I never spoke Hindi. It's very difficult for a Tamil person to speak Hindi because we have such attachment," he explained.

It was filmmaker Subhash Ghai who advised him to learn Hindi if he wanted longevity in Bollywood. Rahman went further, choosing to learn Urdu-which he calls "the mother of Hindi music" from the golden era-and later Punjabi, influenced by his collaborations with Sukhwinder Singh. That partnership produced some of Indian cinema's most iconic songs, including Chaiyya Chaiyya, Ramta Jogi, and the Oscar-winning Jai Ho.

Asked whether non-Maharashtrian or South Indian artistes face bias in Bollywood, Rahman said he never experienced discrimination directly.

"I didn't feel it," he said, before reiterating that today's industry operates differently. "People who are not creative have the power now."

Rather than engaging with industry politics, Rahman said he prefers to stay detached, focusing on global projects, meaningful collaborations, and family life.

Rahman also reflected on the responsibility of artists in a polarised social climate. "That's why God gives people like us more power-to replace bad with good through words, actions and art," he said, adding that intent determines whether he associates with a project.

Shobhaa De Reacts

On singer A. R. Rahman's statement, novelist and columnist Shobhaa De said, "This is a very dangerous comment. I say this because I have been closely observing Bollywood for the past 50 years. If you have talent, you will get opportunities. If you don't have talent, you won't get opportunities. That is the reality, as I have seen Bollywood for five decades..."