Jaaved Jaaferi reacts to AR Rahman`s controversial remarks; talks about changes

Actor Jaaved Jaaferi is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Mayasabha. During the promotions of his upcoming film, the actor took time to reflect on the changes in the industry. He shared his take on the changes that he has witnessed in the industry in his four-decade-long career. Notably, Jaaved has worked across different roles in the industry, and he feels that the industry is driven by changes like everything else in this world.

Jaaved Jaaferi about AR Rahman`s comments

While speaking to IANS, Jaaved was asked if he had sensed anything similar to the claims made by the Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A. R. Rahman about religious discrimination in the industry. The actor drifted the conversation towards larger industry practices, saying, "Industry has changed like the world has changed. Digital. Al. The world is changing. Fashion is changing, food is changing. Values are changing. Obviously, the narrative is changing. I just came to know recently that the attention span of Gen Z or Alpha is 6 seconds".

He further added, "Channel heads says that if you cannot capture it in 6 seconds, it`s gone. It`s how rapidly we are changing. That`s it. Fine. There has been some structure. There have been some opportunities. You can narrate a story in long-format, in a film, you get limited time. There are choices but at the same time, there is business. There are numbers. You are making a project. Not a film".

AR Rahman`s controversial remark

Meanwhile, the controversy around  AR Rahman erupted after his statement in a recent interview about his experience working in the Hindi film industry. During a recent interaction with BBC Asian Network, Rahman spoke about getting limited work offers in Bollywood.

He suggested that over the past eight years, a shift in power dynamics and "communal" factors, meaning issues tied to religion, regional identity, and industry politics, may have influenced the types of opportunities he received in Bollywood. His comments sparked a strong public and media backlash, with many interpreting his words as implying discrimination or bias within the industry.

Following the uproar, Rahman issued a video clarification, stressing that his intentions were misunderstood and that he "never meant to hurt anyone". He described India as his inspiration and reaffirmed that his music is rooted in unity and cultural celebration.

(With inputs from IANS)