AR Rahman’s recent comment about getting less work in the last eight years because the film industry might be growing increasingly communal has triggered a backlash. Several celebrities have since shared their perspectives on the composer’s statement, with some supporting his views and others strongly disagreeing. Now, actor Jaaved Jaaferi has also shared his thoughts on the issue. Offering a broader perspective, Jaaved said that like the country and everything else around us, the film industry too has undergone significant change.
‘Industry has changed like the world has changed’
Speaking to IANS, he said, “Industry has changed like the world has changed. Digital. AI. 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 elaborated, “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.”
‘Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir are the country’s biggest superstars’
Meanwhile, writer Manoj Muntashir shared a more direct view on the issue and outright rejected Rahman’s claim, pointing out that Bollywood’s biggest three superstars are all Muslims. “This is a country whose biggest superstars are Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Its most celebrated writers and poets include Javed Akhtar, Sahir Ludhianvi and Majrooh Sultanpuri. This is also a country where the cricket team was captained by Mohammad Azharuddin. I don’t believe there is any discrimination in our industry,” he said.
He added, “In any Hindi film, at any time, just read the opening and end credits. You will see a long list of names, almost 250 people. If you look closely, you will notice a clear pattern. I openly challenge anyone to pick any random film and show me where one particular religion has been given special importance while others were ignored. You will never find anything like that.”
‘Films like Pathaan and Jawan have broken all box office records’
Disagreeing further with Rahman’s statement, Manoj said, “We respect AR Rahman deeply and are very proud that he belongs to our country. At the same time, with complete respect, we have the right to disagree, and I completely disagree with the claim being made, especially the suggestion that something has changed in the last eight years. I don’t understand why that time period is being highlighted.”
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He also pointed out that it was Shah Rukh Khan-starrers Pathaan and Jawan that emerged as the biggest box office hits in recent times. “In the last eight years, films like Pathaan and Jawan have broken all box office records. This country has a big heart and soul. It does not judge its artists, it loves them. If you do good work, people lift you on their shoulders. Sometimes they get upset and scold you, but that closeness comes from love,” he explained.
He concluded by saying, “That is the relationship between this country and its artists. Any kind of discrimination, of any sort, I completely refuse to believe. This inclusiveness is our identity.”
