Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has issued a clarification on social media after an old interview of his resurfaced, in which he alleged that AR Rahman did not compose the Oscar-winning song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire. In the viral clip, Varma claimed singer Sukhwinder Singh composed the track and was paid Rs 5 lakh by Rahman for it, narrating a dramatic story involving Subhash Ghai, delays, and credit disputes. The remarks gained traction amid recent discussions about Rahman’s reduced work in Hindi films due to industry “power shifts” and “communal” politics.
In a post on X today, Varma addressed the backlash directly: “To all concerned… I am being misquoted and misread out of context in the matter of the Jai Ho song… in my view. @arrahman is the greatest composer and the nicest human being I ever met and he’s the last person to take away anybody’s credit… I hope this puts an end to the negativism surrounding the issue.” The statement aims to defuse the controversy and reaffirm his respect for Rahman.
The original interview painted a vivid picture: Varma described Rahman allegedly facing pressure from Subhash Ghai during Yuvvraaj, visiting Sukhwinder Singh’s studio, and later claiming the song as his own after Sukhwinder completed it. He further alleged Rahman’s manager sent Sukhwinder a cheque for Rs 5 lakh as his share after selling the track to Slumdog Millionaire. However, Sukhwinder Singh himself distanced from the narrative in a past Hindustan Times interview, saying he only sang the song and suggesting Varma might have misunderstood facts.
Also Read: AR Rahman Reveals New Gen "Gaslighted" Him, Says Past Glory Feels Like Criticism Now
The episode highlights how old statements can resurface and fuel debates in the film industry, especially around credit and collaborations. AR Rahman, who won two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire including Best Original Song for Jai Ho, has not directly commented on Varma’s clarification but recently addressed unrelated industry concerns in an Instagram video, emphasizing no intent to hurt anyone.
The back-and-forth underscores ongoing conversations about recognition in music composition and the dynamics of Bollywood collaborations.
Also Read: AR Rahman Breaks Silence on Communal Remark Controversy