Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman has weighed in on the debate sparked by music composer AR Rahman’s recent statement about facing communal bias and a shift in power dynamics within Bollywood. Rahman had stirred conversation after hinting that he may have lost work in the Hindi film industry because of a “communal thing,” comments he later clarified on social media, insisting that his intention was not to hurt anyone.
In an interview with SCREEN, Waheeda chose a measured approach, stating that she prefers to stay away from such controversies. “Yes, I read about it, but I try to dig less into it. I prefer not to pay attention to it, when everything is going fine. These small things happen in every country,” she said. She added, “So, what to believe and how much to believe? If it’s even true or not. Why should we get involved? At least at my age, I don’t want to get involved with anything or anybody. Apni shaanti se raho, yeh mulk hai humaara, bas khush raho, that’s what I can say.”
Waheeda also suggested that Rahman’s reduced workload in recent years may be more about the changing industry than religion. “Kaam toh upar neeche hota hi rehta hai. Ek umar ke baad, log kehte hain ki bring somebody new or different. All this can lead to a few people staying behind,” she explained, adding that fluctuating opportunities are normal in any creative field.
Rahman, in an earlier BBC Asian Network interview, reflected on the challenges he faced as a Tamil composer in Bollywood, noting that a power shift in the industry and a change in decision-makers may have affected opportunities. While his comments prompted reactions from several industry figures, Waheeda’s perspective emphasises calm, perspective, and acceptance in the face of evolving times.
