AR Rahman responds to trolls and explains why he worked on Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: "I am Muslim..."

Despite being Muslim, Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman recently discussed working on director Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming epic Ramayana, saying that knowledge and art are not limited by religious boundaries.

The well-known composer, who is working on the project with two-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, claimed to have been familiar with Indian epics since he was a young child.

AR Rahman's remarks regarding religious differences

Rahman discussed his participation in the Ramayana and responded to inquiries about faith and identity in a recent discussion on the BBC Asian YouTube channel. He emphasized the importance of overcoming religious differences and prejudice. The composer remarked, "I know the story because I attended a Brahmin school where we studied the Ramayana and Mahabharata every year."

He went on to say that values and ideals, not religious identity, are the epic's central theme. "The story is about how virtuous and high-principled a person is," he said in reference to the ongoing controversy. I appreciate all the positive things you can learn, regardless of what others may think. Rahman used religious teachings to support his claim that knowledge should be accepted regardless of its source.

Rahman explains his position, saying, "I am Muslim and Ramayana is Hindu."

According to Rahman, society must transcend narrow-mindedness. I believe that we must transcend selfishness and narrow-mindedness. We shine when we rise above, and that is crucial. Ramayana is Hindu, Hans Zimmer is Jewish, and I am Muslim. The composer declared, "It is coming from India to the entire world with love."

AR Rahman's upbringing and early exposure to Indian epics

For those who are unaware, Rahman was born in Madras into a Hindu family. After converting to Islam in 1989, he changed his name from Dileep Kumar Rajagopala.

When will the Ramayana be published? Details, budget, and cast

Ramayana is being produced on a large scale under the direction of Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. Yash plays Ravana in the movie, while Sai Pallavi plays Sita and Lord Rama. Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027 will see the release of this two-part movie. Rakul Preet Singh plays Surpanakha, Arun Govil plays Dasharatha, Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana, and Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman. According to reports, the budget for Ramayana exceeds Rs 4,000 crore.