The ongoing storm surrounding AR Rahman’s recent comments on the Hindi film industry took an unexpected turn on Sunday. After a week of heavy criticism from several Bollywood heavyweights, veteran actor and former politician Paresh Rawal stepped forward to offer a public show of support for the Oscar-winning composer.
The controversy began after Rahman appeared for an interview with the BBC Asian Network on January 14, 2026. During the conversation, the musician suggested that a “power shift” in the industry over the last eight years had led to non-creatives majorly making the decisions in a creative field, and even hinted at experiencing “communal” bias. These remarks were met with sharp rebuttals from figures like Javed Akhtar, Shobha De, and a particularly scathing Instagram post from Kangana Ranaut, who labeled Rahman “hateful and prejudiced.”
Support from a veteran
On January 18, 2026, Rahman released a heartfelt video on Instagram to clear the air. In the video, he spoke about his deep bond with India and explained that his “intentions can sometimes be misunderstood.” He emphasized that his only goal has always been to serve the country through his art.
Shortly after the video went live, Paresh Rawal re-shared the clip on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. His message was simple but reverent:
“We love you sir. You are our pride. 🙏❤️”
Rawal’s intervention is important – especially at a time like this – because of his reputation in the industry as both a respected senior actor, and a figure often associated with the political ideologies that some critics of Rahman represent. By appreciating Rahman, Rawal seemed to be signaling that the composer’s comments should not tarnish his image after decades of service to the Indian film industry
The debate online
While many of Rahman’s fans were quick to thank Rawal for his balanced and respectful comments, the post also sparked a new wave of discussion. The acting veteran who is well known for his deadpan humour and sarcasm online, had some users questioning whether he was being sincere or sarcastic.
According to The Times of India, comments on the post ranged from fans praising him for “saying the right thing” to skeptics asking if he was being “ironic.” Some netizens even pushed back against his use of the word “our,” stating he should only speak for himself.
Rawal’s message seems to have calmed the tension online just as the situation was escalating; essentially starting to get out of hand. While people will likely keep debating the power dynamics in Bollywood, seeing Rawal publicly support Rahman suggests that the industry is finally trying to move past this conflict and mend fences.