Shobhaa De Slams Rahman’s Remarks

Author rejects claims of communal bias in Bollywood after composer’s interview sparks debate

January 17, 2026: Author and columnist Shobhaa De has strongly criticised A R Rahman’s recent remarks suggesting a possible communal bias in Bollywood, calling them “very dangerous.” Speaking to ANI, De said that in her five decades of observing the Hindi film industry, she has found Bollywood to be largely free of communal tension. Reacting to Rahman’s suggestion that he may not be getting as much work in recent years, she asserted that talent, not religion, determines opportunities in the industry and added that a composer of Rahman’s stature should have been more cautious with his words.

The controversy stems from Rahman’s interview with the BBC Asian Network, where he was asked whether he faced prejudice in Bollywood as a Tamil composer. While he said he had never felt discrimination directly, Rahman hinted that the past eight years may have seen a “power shift,” with non-creative people gaining influence. He added that it “might be a communal thing,” though he stressed that it was never said to his face and came to him only through indirect accounts of projects going to multiple other composers instead.

Rahman also maintained that he was not actively seeking work and preferred opportunities to come to him naturally, allowing him more time with his family. However, his comments have triggered sharp reactions online, with many netizens calling him out for implying communal bias in the film industry. The debate has since widened into a broader discussion on merit, power dynamics and perception of discrimination within Bollywood.