Mumbai: Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, known globally for his groundbreaking contributions to Indian and international music, has announced his separation from wife Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage. The couple, who got married in 1995, shared their decision in a joint statement through their lawyer, Vandana Shah, leaving fans across the world shocked and heartbroken. The separation announcement has sparked widespread discussion among fans and media.
Amid the news, some old rumors about AR Rahman’s religious conversion have crawled back online, falsely linking it to Saira Banu. It was speculated that he converted for his former wife. But here’s the truth.
A R Rahman, born AS Dileep Kumar, embraced Islam at the age of 23 after a deeply spiritual journey that he has often shared with fans. A post shared by ARR (@arrahman) In a 2000 interview with Karan Thapar, Rahman revealed that his decision to adopt Islam was influenced by a Sufi healer who treated his father during his final days battling cancer. Years later, Rahman and his family reconnected with the healer, leading them down a spiritual path that brought peace.
“There was a Sufi who treated him during his last days. We met him again 7-8 years later, and that’s when we embraced another faith,” he explained. The composer embraced Islam in the 1980s and changed his name.
AR Rahman’s decision to change his name also stemmed from spiritual and personal reasons. In the book AR Rahman: The Spirit of Music by N.
