AR Rahman reacts to public scrutiny after announcing divorce from Saira Banu: ‘The thing is karma, everybody has a sister, wife, and mother’

After remaining tight-lipped for months, Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman has finally spoken about the wave of public interest and commentary following his separation from his wife, Saira Banu. Their decision to part ways, which was publicly shared in November 2024, took many by surprise and led to an outpouring of mixed reactions across social media. Until now, both Rahman and Saira had refrained from addressing the speculation directly.
Speaking with Nayandeep Rakshit in a recent interview on YouTube, Rahman shared his thoughts on the challenges of living under constant public scrutiny. He acknowledged the nature of fame and how it invites judgement. “The choice of being in public life is intentional, so everybody gets reviewed. Right from the richest person to even God gets reviewed, so who am I? As long as we stay together and are not conceited or toxic… even the people who [criticise us] — they are all family,” Rahman remarked.

Responding to online trolling and personal attacks, Rahman chose to take the high road, offering a message grounded in empathy and cultural values. “The thing is karma. If I say things about someone’s family, someone is going to say things about mine. And we, as Indians, believe this. Nobody should say unnecessary things because everybody has a sister, a wife, and a mother. Even if I feel like someone says something [hurtful] about my family, I often pray, ‘Please God, forgive them and guide them onto the right path,’” he said.

in 2024, Rahman took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news of his separation: “We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.”
Saira Banu, through her legal representative Vandana Shah, released a statement confirming that the separation stemmed from emotional stress within their marriage. Following Rahman’s reported health complications and hospitalisation in March, Saira clarified that although they are living separately, they remain legally married. In a public message, she appealed for sensitivity from the media and Rahman’s well-wishers.