'Two Oscars can be a burden,' says AR Rahman revealing that people gaslighted him into believing he's not making good music compared to his earlier work like 'Roja'

While AR Rahman recently admitted that Hindi film projects have slowed down for him over the past eight years, he also pointed out that the last six years have been among the most intense and productive phases of his career. In a recent interview, the composer revealed that between 2019 and 2025, he worked on nearly 20 to 30 films, which was a deliberate decision to reassert himself and connect with a newer generation of listeners.Reflecting on how audiences often view his work through nostalgia, Rahman said during a chat with The Hollywood Reporter India, “For the past six years, to be frank, when people come to you, the ’90s generation have a certain nostalgia, certain affinity towards your music. The same goes for those born in 2000s, and so on for those from the next decade. They come and gaslight you. They say, 'In the ’90s, you did Roja (1992). That’s very good music, sir!’ That feels like now, you’re not doing good music, right? It actually harms your thinking if you’re not in your best mood." To challenge that perception, Rahman consciously chose to immerse himself in back-to-back projects. “So I thought what if I go on a rampage and keep doing movies, songs after songs? So, every director who comes to me now, says, ‘You’ve done such a great sequence in Mani (Ratnam) sir’s movie Thug Life. So, all the examples now are from the last six years. I’ve done 20-30 movies in the last six years. So, I’m safe now. I’ve got enough for the next generation. That was intentional,” he said in his interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.Also See: AR Rahman's daughters react to his 'communal' remark controversy as Malayalam composer comes out in his support: 'You can disagree with him but can't deny him...' Rahman also spoke about the need to constantly reinvent himself and let go of familiar creative formulas. “It’s the modern, the new me. You want to keep evolving, drop your formulas. We’re growing old, so is the listener. Whatever comes out of the radio or TV, I should like it first. I should not think I’m still doing my own style,” he explained, adding, “Whatever I’ve learnt, some of the stuff I keep, some of it I just throw. You jump onto what’s next. Even if it’s going to fail, it’s fine.”Elaborating further on his mindset, Rahman shared that personal motivation matters more to him than past accolades. “I love that stuff, but within me, I need to get my self-esteem and confidence back, and prove myself. What I’m doing next is going to be the best thing. Not rely on the past, and be like, ‘Oh, I've won 2 Oscars.’ That thought drains you. You’re not motivated to do anything, It can be a burden. It’s not in my Twitter or Instagram bio, no Oscar, no Grammy, nothing. It’s a fresh start, 2026,” he added.Looking ahead, Rahman said he will now be largely occupied with co-composing the score and songs for Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, slated for theatrical releases this Diwali and the next. He is also set to reunite musically with longtime collaborators Imtiaz Ali and Mani Ratnam on their upcoming directorial ventures.