Overview
- Following criticism of his BBC comments, Rahman posted an Instagram video saying he never wished to cause pain and described India as his inspiration, teacher and home.
- He originally told BBC Asian Network that a power shift over the past eight years led to fewer Hindi film assignments and that it might have involved a communal element conveyed through hearsay.
- In his video, he highlighted inclusive initiatives such as JHALAA, Rooh‑E‑Noor, work with Naga musicians, the Sunshine Orchestra and Secret Mountain, and noted he is scoring Ramayana with Hans Zimmer.
- In new interviews, Rahman said younger audiences compared his recent work to his 1990s output, noted he composed for roughly 20–30 films since 2019 across languages and described 2026 as a fresh start.
- Reactions remain polarized, with criticism from Kangana Ranaut and calls online for consequences, countered by support from Paresh Rawal and Varun Grover, as Javed Akhtar and singer Shaan downplayed claims of communal bias.