Debate in Bollywood Over Rahman’s Comments...

AR Rahman, one of India’s most respected music composers and an Oscar winner, recently made comments about changes in Bollywood that sparked wide debate. He said that over the past eight years, there has been a power shift in the Hindi film industry, with less creative people gaining control. Rahman added that religion might be one of the reasons behind this change, though he clarified that he never faced discrimination directly. He mentioned hearing whispers instead and said he does not run after work, believing that honest effort brings opportunities on its own.

Singer Shaan strongly reacted to these remarks, saying that lack of work should not be linked to religion. He shared that even he is not getting many opportunities now, but that does not mean discrimination. Shaan stressed that talent matters most in Bollywood and pointed out that stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have ruled the industry for decades. Author Shobhaa De called Rahman’s comments dangerous, while writer Javed Akhtar said Rahman’s words may have been misunderstood. He added that Rahman is respected in Mumbai and may be busy with international projects, which could be why filmmakers feel he is unavailable.

The issue also took a political turn after VHP leader Vinod Bansal made controversial statements. Meanwhile, public opinion remains divided. Some believe Rahman’s concerns are genuine, while others feel changing audience tastes and the arrival of new talent naturally reduce chances for senior artists. Most netizens agree that for any artist, talent should matter more than religion.