When AR Rahman Defended Wife Saira Against Troll For Not Speaking Tamil: ‘What’s Her Mother Tongue?’ – News18

Last Updated:November 20, 2024, 04:01 IST

In 2023, during the Vikatan Awards, actress Kasturi Shankar shared a clip from the event and raised questions about Saira Banu’s fluency in Tamil.

The news of AR Rahman and his wife Saira Banu’s separation after 29 years of marriage has left the industry and fans in shock. Amid this, an incident from 2023 has resurfaced, showcasing AR Rahman’s strong defence of his wife against actress Kasturi Shankar’s remarks.

In 2023, during the Vikatan Awards, actress Kasturi Shankar shared a clip from the event and raised questions about Saira Banu’s fluency in Tamil. She questioned the composer on X (formerly Twitter), asking why Saira wasn’t fluent in Tamil, what her mother tongue was, and what language they spoke at home.

The remarks drew backlash from fans who criticised the actress for making personal and unnecessary comments about Rahman’s family. AR Rahman responded with grace, tweeting in Tamil, “Kadhalukku Mariyadhai,” which translates to “Respect for Love.” His dignified reply quickly went viral, earning widespread applause.

A year later, Rahman and Saira have announced their separation, marking the end of nearly three decades of marriage. Saira’s lawyer, Vandana Shah, shared an official statement about the couple’s decision, revealing it was made after enduring significant emotional strain in their relationship.

The statement read, “After many years of marriage, Mrs. Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband Mr. AR Rahman. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship.” It also noted that while the couple still holds immense love for each other, the challenges they faced created an insurmountable gap.

Rahman and Saira married in 1995 and are parents to three children: daughters Khatija and Raheema, and son AR Ameen.

As Rahman moves forward with his career, focusing on upcoming projects like Chhaava, Thug Life, Lahore 1947 and Genie, his fans continue to support him during this difficult time.