Archive · 16 Jan 2026
AR Rahman on Ramayan and Bollywood Struggles
AR Rahman is a famous music composer who started working in Bollywood with the movie Roja in 1991.
He worked with many important directors and created many popular songs.
He had to learn many languages like Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and Punjabi to feel more comfortable in the Hindi film industry.
Recently, he has noticed that he is getting less work in Bollywood.
He thinks this might be because of some unfair treatment or changes in who has power in the industry.
He also says he doesn't actively look for work; he prefers that good opportunities come to him.
Rahman is also working on the music for the Ramayan project, collaborating with Hans Zimmer.
He believes in rising above petty things and values the good lessons from any source.
The Ramayan project is a collaboration of different cultures and religions, aiming to bring something new to the world.
AR Rahman made his Bollywood debut in 1991 with Roja and collaborated with notable directors like Mani Ratnam, Subhash Ghai, and Hans Zimmer.
He learned Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and Punjabi to better integrate into the Hindi film industry.
Rahman has noticed a decline in work opportunities in the last 8 years, possibly due to communal bias or a power shift in the industry.
He prefers that work comes to him rather than actively seeking it.
Rahman is working on the music for the Ramayan project, collaborating with Hans Zimmer, and believes in rising above petty things.
- Who
- AR Rahman, renowned music composer
- What
- Reflections on his career in Bollywood, recent decline in work, and collaboration on Ramayan
- When
- Last 8 years, with notable career milestones in the 1990s and 2000s
- Where
- Bollywood, Hindi film industry
- Why
- Possible communal bias, power shift in the industry, and a preference for work to come to him
- AR Rahman's Bollywood Debut
- 1991, Roja
- Notable Collaborations
- Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma, Subhash Ghai, Hans Zimmer
- Iconic Songs
- Chaiyya Chaiyya, Jai Ho, Taal Se Taal
- Language Learning
- Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi
- Recent Work Decline
- Last 8 years
- Reason for Decline
- Possible communal bias, power shift in industry
- Current Work Approach
- Prefers work to come to him
- Ramayan Collaboration
- Hans Zimmer, Nitesh Tiwari
- Ramayan Cast
- Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Kajal Aggarwal, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan
Sources
AR Rahman admits he has lost work in Bollywood in the last 8 years: ‘Maybe it’s a communal thing; people who are not creative have the power now’
Bollywood's changed, it's a communal thing: AR Rahman
AR Rahman On Composing Music For Ramayan: "I Am Muslim, Studied In A Brahmin School"
AR Rahman Opens Up On The 'Power Shift In Bollywood': "Could Be A Communal Thing"
Rahman Blames 'Communal Thing' For Lesser Work
