Abhijeet Bhattacharya Accuses A.R. Rahman of Keeping Padma Awardees Waiting for Hours at Studio

Singer Recounts Recording ‘Ae Nazneen Suno Na’ and Claims Veteran Artists Were Left Waiting While Rahman Stayed Upstairs

Mumbai, April 9: Veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has stirred controversy with his recent remarks about Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman, claiming that the composer once kept several Padma awardees waiting for hours at his studio during a recording session.

In an interview, Abhijeet recalled his experience while recording the song “Ae Nazneen Suno Na” for the 1999 film Dil Hi Dil Mein, the only song he has ever recorded with Rahman.

Abhijeet said, “Rahman saab ke andar kya hai ki… maine aise-aise Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri walo ko neeche bench pe baithe hue dekha hai…” (What’s surprising is that I saw Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardees sitting downstairs on a bench… Rahman sir didn’t come down for two or three hours.)

He further added that while several respected figures, including writers and filmmakers from the South, waited downstairs, Rahman remained upstairs in his studio. “Everyone was chatting to pass the time. I kept checking my watch. Rahman sir never came down,” he said.

Abhijeet said he eventually recorded the song with the help of Rahman’s assistant and left. “Main gaana gaa ke nikal gaya… his assistant recorded it. That’s the respect given to Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardees,” he commented, clearly voicing his disapproval.

The incident highlights the only collaboration between the two artists, with “Ae Nazneen Suno Na” being their lone recorded track together.

Neither A.R. Rahman nor his representatives have publicly responded to the claims at the time of writing.