AR Rahman clarified he loves India and never meant harm, defending his criticism of Bollywood’s direction.

Music composer AR Rahman clarified his recent remarks about Bollywood, stating he never intended to cause harm and reaffirming his deep love for India, calling it his inspiration and home. In a video posted on January 18, 2026, Rahman said music has always been his way of honoring Indian culture, highlighting projects like Secret Mountain, India’s first multicultural virtual band. His comments, initially made in a BBC interview where he noted a decline in work from the Hindi film industry and criticized the film Chhaava for exploiting divisiveness, sparked backlash. Actor Paresh Rawal supported Rahman, re-sharing the video and calling him “our pride,” reflecting widespread sentiment in defense of Rahman’s artistic legacy and cultural ties.