Mumbai: Music-composer AR Rahman’s recent revelation about power dynamics and communal discrimination in the industry has not been well received by many, including noted Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.
Citing examples of superstars like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, who have achieved massive success in the industry irrespective of the religion they follow, Taslima slammed Rahman for saying that he is not getting work because of communalism.
She added that it doesn’t suit a successful music composer to be “pitied” as the ‘rich’ ones don’t face discrimination and difficulties.
“AR Rahman is a Muslim and is extraordinarily famous in India. His remuneration, as far as I have heard, is higher than that of all other artists. He is probably the richest musician. He is complaining that he is not given work in Bollywood because he is a Muslim. Shah Rukh Khan is still the Badshah of Bollywood; Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi — all of them are superstars,” Taslima wrote.
“The famous and the rich never face difficulties anywhere. No matter what religion they belong to, what caste, or what community. Difficulties happen to poor people like me.”
Talking about her struggles, Taslima shared, “Even though I am a strict atheist, because of my name I am assumed to be a Muslim. Those who are anti-Muslim do not care whether one is an atheist or a believer. No one wants to rent me an apartment. When I go to a hospital, they deceive me and cut off my leg. I get beaten even for being an atheist in Hyderabad; I cannot set foot in Aurangabad; I am pushed out of West Bengal.Bottom of Form These problems do not even come within the farthest boundaries of A. R. Rahman’s life or of Muslim stars in Bollywood.”
“I am not a citizen. Between a citizen and a resident, except for the right to vote, all other rights are the same—at least the law says so. Many citizens do not live in India out of love; I live here because I love it. I never deviate from principles and ideals. After tearing apart the hollow bones and marrow of Islam, I am living a sentence of exile, yet people still say to me, “You people celebrate Eid by sighting the moon,” or “polygamy is practiced among you.” The common people of this country hardly know anything about atheism, or about the humanism that stands upon atheism,” she added.
“The men and women of this land are my own people. The culture of this soil is my culture too. How far can I ngo if I leave it behind? A. R. Rahman is revered by Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, atheists, and believers alike. It does not suit him to be pitied,” Taslima concluded.
A. R. Rahman is a Muslim and is extraordinarily famous in India. His remuneration, as far as I have heard, is higher than that of all other artists. He is probably the richest musician. He is complaining that he is not given work in Bollywood because he is a Muslim. Shah Rukh…
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) January 18, 2026
During an interview with BBC Asian Network, Rahman was asked if he ever felt prejudice in Bollywood as he hails from South. The music composer replied, “Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed by God, but I didn’t feel any of this. The past eight years, maybe, because a power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also… but it is not in my face.”
Rahman also criticised Vicky Kaushal’s period drama ‘Chhaava’ for cashing in on ‘divisiveness’.
After facing backlash for his comments, he issued an apology for hurting sentiments.
On the work front, Rahman is currently busy composing music for Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the film is slated for Diwali 2026 release.
