AR Rahman recently revealed how he would feel the pressure from people who complimented his 90's music, making him doubt his music now. The music composer also admitted that Oscars and other awards can be a burden
AR Rahman
AR Rahman recently grabbed headlines over his controversial "communal" remark in a recent interview. His comment drew mixed reactions from individuals. Nevertheless, the music composer issued a video statement addressing the backlash, saying it wasn't his intention to hurt anyone. Meanwhile, another statement of the Oscar-winning composer and singer is going viral, wherein he claimed that he had been "gaslighted" that he was not doing enough good work.
AR Rahman reveals people gaslit him
In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rahman said that he had worked hard in the last few years to reach out to a new generation. He also mentioned that he had composed for around 20-30 films between 2019 and 2025. Notably, this contrasts his earlier statement about work slowing down in the last eight years.
He shared, "For the past six years, to be frank, when people come to you, the '90s generation has a certain nostalgia and affinity towards your music. The same goes for those born in the 2000s, and so on for those from the next decade. They come and gaslight you. They say, 'In the '90s, you did Roja (1992). That's very good music, sir!' That feels like now you're not doing good music, right? It actually harms your thinking if you're not in your best mood."
"So I thought, what if I go on a rampage and keep doing movies, song after song? So, every director who comes to me now says, 'You've done such a great sequence in Mani (Ratnam) sir's movie Thug Life. So, all the examples now are from the last six years. I've done 20-30 movies in the last six years. So, I'm safe now. I've got enough for the next generation. That was intentional," Rahman went on to add.
AR Rahman says Oscars can be a burden
During the interview, Rahman, who has collaborated with Oscar-winning Hans Zimmer on composing music for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayan, also shared that he does not want to be complacent and that wants to push the boundaries for himself.
"I love that stuff, but within me, I need to get my self-esteem and confidence back, and prove myself. What I'm doing next is going to be the best thing. Not rely on the past, and be like, 'Oh, I've won 33 Filmfare Awards and two Oscars.' That thought drains you. You're not motivated to do anything. It can be a burden. It's not in my Twitter or Instagram bio—no Oscar, no Grammy, nothing. It's a fresh start, 2026," he said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
