Bollywood
‘I am Muslim…’: AR Rahman explains why he worked on Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, responds to trolls
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has addressed questions surrounding faith and identity after announcing his involvement in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana. Responding to criticism and online trolling, Rahman emphasised that art, knowledge, and storytelling transcend religious boundaries, and should be approached with openness rather than prejudice.
Rahman, who is collaborating with two-time Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer on the ambitious project, said that his connection with Indian epics dates back to his childhood and is rooted in cultural familiarity rather than religious labels.
“Art cannot be confined by religion”
Speaking in a recent conversation on the BBC Asian YouTube channel, Rahman reflected on his early exposure to Indian mythology and literature.
“I studied in a Brahmin school, and every year we had Ramayana and Mahabharata, so I know the story,” he said.
The composer highlighted that the core of the Ramayana lies in its moral values and universal ideals, not in religious exclusivity.
“The story is about how virtuous and high-principled a person is. People can debate, but I value all the good things—any good thing that you can learn,” Rahman added.
He also referenced teachings across religions that encourage seeking knowledge regardless of its source, reinforcing his belief that wisdom is universal.
‘I am Muslim, Ramayana is Hindu—but art unites us’
Addressing the controversy more directly, Rahman urged society to rise above narrow-minded thinking.
“I think we need to rise above narrow-mindedness and selfishness. When we rise above, we shine—and that is very important,” he said.
“Hans Zimmer is Jewish, I am Muslim, and Ramayana is Hindu. It is coming from India to the whole world with love.”
His statement has been widely praised for underlining India’s pluralistic cultural tradition, where artists from diverse backgrounds have long contributed to stories rooted in different faiths.
AR Rahman’s background and early life
Rahman was born in Chennai (then Madras) into a Hindu family and was originally named Dileep Kumar Rajagopala. He converted to Islam in 1989 and adopted the name AR Rahman. Despite the change in religious identity, the composer has often spoken about how Indian classical traditions, spiritual philosophies, and diverse cultural influences shaped his musical journey.
Over the decades, Rahman has composed music for films across languages, cultures, and belief systems—often blending spiritual themes with contemporary soundscapes.
About Ramayana: cast, scale, and release
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is one of the most ambitious Indian film projects ever undertaken.
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
- Yash as Ravana
- Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman
- Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana
- Arun Govil as King Dasharatha
- Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha
The film is planned as a two-part cinematic epic, with:
- Part 1 releasing on Diwali 2026
- Part 2 releasing on Diwali 2027
Reportedly made on a staggering budget of over ₹4,000 crore, the project aims to present the ancient epic with cutting-edge visual effects and a globally appealing musical score.
Why Rahman’s involvement matters
Rahman’s collaboration with Hans Zimmer marks a rare East–West musical partnership for an Indian mythological film, positioning Ramayana as a project with international reach. His comments have reignited conversations about artistic freedom, inclusivity, and the dangers of reducing creativity to religious identity.
By choosing to participate in Ramayana, Rahman reiterates a long-held belief:
stories belong to humanity, not to any single faith.
Bollywood
Dhurandhar 2: Ranveer Singh’s Film to Release in Tamil, Telugu and Other Regional Languages | Full List Here
Ranveer Singh is all set to return to the big screen with the second instalment of his much-talked-about spy thriller Dhurandhar. Titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Following the success and anticipation surrounding the first part, the makers are leaving no stone unturned to make the sequel a pan-India release.
Recently, the first poster of Dhurandhar 2 featuring Ranveer Singh was unveiled, instantly grabbing fans’ attention and generating strong buzz across social media platforms.
Dhurandhar 2 to Get a Multi-Language Release
To ensure the film reaches a wider audience across the country, the makers have officially confirmed that Dhurandhar: The Revenge will be released in multiple regional languages along with Hindi.
Languages Dhurandhar 2 Will Release In:
- Hindi
- Telugu
- Tamil
- Kannada
- Malayalam
With this multi-language release strategy, the makers aim to tap into the massive South Indian market, making Dhurandhar 2 one of Ranveer Singh’s biggest pan-India releases to date.
Dhurandhar 2 Title and Teaser Details
Along with announcing the official title, the makers also revealed the teaser release date and time. The teaser of Dhurandhar: The Revenge is set to drop on February 3, 2026, at 12:12 PM.
The newly released poster hints at a darker, more intense chapter in the Dhurandhar universe, with Ranveer Singh expected to reprise his role in a high-octane, action-packed avatar.
About the Dhurandhar Franchise
The Dhurandhar film series is written and directed by Aditya Dhar, best known for his blockbuster film Uri: The Surgical Strike. The franchise is being produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and Lokesh Dhar under the banners of Jio Studios and B62 Studios.
With Aditya Dhar at the helm and Ranveer Singh leading the cast, expectations are high for Dhurandhar: The Revenge to deliver gripping storytelling, stylised action, and strong performances.
As the teaser drops later today, fans are eagerly waiting to get their first glimpse of what promises to be an intense and action-heavy sequel. With its pan-India release and a popular lead star, Dhurandhar 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Bollywood releases of 2026.
Bollywood
Border 2 box office collection Day 6: Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan film storms past Rs 200 crore mark
Border 2 continues its strong run at the Indian box office, achieving a major milestone within its opening week. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol, along with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, has officially entered the Rs 200 crore club in just six days, cementing its position as one of the biggest Hindi releases of 2026 so far.
Despite the expected weekday slowdown after a bumper Republic Day boost, the film has managed to maintain steady footfalls across multiplexes and single screens alike.
Border 2 box office collection Day 6 (India net)
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film opened to an impressive Rs 30 crore on its first Friday. Collections jumped to Rs 36.5 crore on Saturday, followed by a massive surge on Sunday, where it earned Rs 54.5 crore.
The momentum continued into Monday (Republic Day), with Border 2 raking in Rs 59 crore, its highest single-day collection so far. As expected, earnings dipped on Tuesday, bringing in Rs 20 crore. On Day 6 (Wednesday), the film added another Rs 13 crore.
This takes Border 2’s total six-day India net collection to approximately Rs 213 crore, officially placing it in the elite Rs 200 crore club within its first week.
Performance trend and audience response
Trade analysts attribute the film’s success to strong nostalgia value, patriotic appeal, and Sunny Deol’s mass connect, particularly in North India. While weekday numbers indicate a gradual stabilisation, Border 2 continues to outperform most recent releases, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres.
With the weekend approaching, the film is expected to see another spike in collections.
Border 2 cast, release date and background
Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta along with Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 released theatrically on January 23, 2026—nearly 29 years after the original Border (1997), which went on to become a cult classic.
Apart from Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, the film also stars Sonam Bajwa, Medha Singh, Mona Singh, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and others in pivotal roles.
Given its current trajectory, Border 2 is well on track to post one of the highest first-week totals for a Hindi film in recent times.
Bollywood
Box Office Report | January 20, 2026: Dhurandhar stays steady; The Raja Saab, Happy Patel struggle on Tuesday
Tuesday proved to be a mixed day at the Indian box office, with most films witnessing the expected weekday slowdown after the weekend rush. While long-running releases like Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continue to show remarkable staying power, several recent releases—including Rahu Ketu and Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos—failed to gain momentum.
Here’s a detailed look at how films performed at the box office on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Rahu Ketu sees further dip on Day 5
Starring Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma, Rahu Ketu continued its downward trend on Tuesday.
- Tuesday collection: ₹47 lakh
- Monday collection: ₹55 lakh
- Total collection: ₹5.42 crore
Despite decent initial interest, the film has struggled to sustain footfalls on weekdays. Trade experts believe that average word-of-mouth and strong competition have impacted its performance.
Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos fails to attract audiences
Produced by Aamir Khan, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos also failed to recover after the weekend.
- Tuesday collection: ₹27 lakh
- Monday collection: ₹45 lakh
- Total collection: ₹5.07 crore
The film features Aamir Khan, Imran Khan, and Mithila Palkar, but has not resonated with audiences despite the notable cast. Analysts point to weak promotions and limited appeal as key reasons behind its underwhelming run.
Dhurandhar continues to show exceptional hold
Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster Dhurandhar remains the standout performer at the box office.
- Tuesday collection: ₹1.50 crore
- Monday collection: ₹1.40 crore
- Days in theatres: 47
- Total collection: ₹828.10 crore
Even in its seventh week, the film continues to earn more than several newer releases. Its strong hold underscores its massive audience acceptance and long-term theatrical value.
Trade insiders are already gearing up for Dhurandhar 2, which is slated for release on March 19, 2026, where it will clash with Yash’s Toxic—one of the most anticipated box office battles of the year.
The Raja Saab struggles despite star power
Prabhas’ The Raja Saab saw a sharp decline in collections on Tuesday.
- Tuesday collection: ₹73 lakh
- Monday collection: ₹1.15 crore
- Total collection: ₹141.43 crore
Despite featuring Prabhas, along with Sanjay Dutt and Zarina Wahab, the film has failed to maintain momentum. Weak word-of-mouth and declining occupancy have significantly affected its box office prospects.
Overall box office outlook
With no major releases midweek, collections are expected to remain muted until the weekend. Films with strong content like Dhurandhar are likely to continue benefiting, while newer releases may struggle to survive unless supported by strong audience feedback.
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