Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai has addressed the ongoing debate around alleged communal undertones in the film industry, subtly pushing back against claims made by some artists, including composer A.R. Rahman. Ghai said such discussions are not new and have existed in society and the industry for decades.

Amid AR Rahman controversy, Subhash Ghai calls communal debate an age-old reality: “People who know their work remain unaffected”

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the filmmaker stated that communal issues have long been a part of social discourse and that individuals who remain focused on their work are largely unaffected by such debates. Ghai was asked whether the film industry, often perceived as a progressive space, is insulated from communal divisions seen in society. Responding to the question, the Taal director drew from personal experience to underline his point.

“See, I was born in Nagpur and did my schooling in Delhi. We used to stay in Chandani Chowk. This issue was there when I was in the 8th standard, it was still there when I went to college, and still existed when I shifted to Mumbai,” he said.

Expanding on the subject, Ghai added that discussions around communal harmony and unrest have been ongoing for years and are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. “The topic of communal harmony will always be in discussion. Communal disturbance, communal unrest, and unemployment have been discussed for the last several years and will continue to be discussed in the coming years,” he stated.

Ghai’s remarks come in the wake of A.R. Rahman’s recent comment about receiving limited work opportunities in Bollywood. During a media interaction, the Oscar-winning composer had said, “People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face.”

Following criticism and backlash, Rahman later clarified his stance, stating that he did not intend to hurt anyone and that he feels blessed to be an Indian.

Addressing the broader discourse surrounding the interpretation of such remarks, Ghai cautioned against over-interpreting isolated statements. “Do not make it a huge issue by trying to understand the meaning of someone’s single statement. People who know their work remain unaffected and continue to focus on their craft, and those who wish to do politics are doing just that,” the filmmaker concluded.

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