A heated conversation has erupted in the Indian film industry after acclaimed composer A. R. Rahman suggested that a slowdown in his Hindi film assignments over the past several years might be connected to a “communal” shift in Bollywood’s dynamics. Rahman, in a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, described changes in power structures and hinted that decisions are increasingly influenced by non-creative individuals, and that this could have a communal character, although he said it was not overt or “in his face.”
Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar responded to Rahman’s remarks by firmly rejecting any communal explanation for the composer’s reduced Bollywood workload. Speaking to IANS, Akhtar said he has “never felt” that Bollywood’s filmmakers or producers have been biased against Rahman on religious grounds. According to him, Rahman continues to be widely respected, and he believes that factors like availability, international commitments or even hesitation from smaller producers to approach a legendary figure like Rahman could contribute to the perception of fewer projects.
I meet many people here in Mumbai and they have great respect for him,” Akhtar said. “Rahman is such a big man. Even a small producer may be intimidated to approach him… I don’t think there is any communal element in this.” Popular playback singer Shaan also dismissed any notion that Rahman’s comments reflect a broader communal or minority bias in Bollywood. He recounted his own experience of sometimes going through periods with less work, emphasizing that fluctuations in opportunities are not unique to Rahman.
Shaan pointed out that if communal bias were a real factor in Bollywood, then some of the industry’s most successful stars — often regarded as belonging to minority communities — would not have enjoyed decades of success. “Those three superstars of the last 30 years… have been in minority communities and continued to grow,” Shaan said, underlining his belief that talent and merit are the main drivers of success in music and film.
The remarks from Rahman sparked a wider conversation across Bollywood. Novelist and columnist Shobhaa De labelled his suggestion of communal bias “a very dangerous comment,” asserting that Bollywood has historically been free of religious discrimination and that filmmakers have always valued talent over religion.
Meanwhile, other artists like Hariharan have highlighted broader structural issues in the industry, noting that the power to decide which songs or composers get released often lies with non-creative executives, which can affect opportunities irrespective of background.
In his interview, Rahman had acknowledged that he doesn’t actively lobby for work and prefers opportunities to come naturally based on merit and sincerity. He noted that sometimes others decide which composers or singers are hired, which can lead to fewer assignments for even established artists — a situation he described as resulting from changes in industry decision-making processes over recent years.