BJP’s Nitesh Rane slams AR Rahman’s Kapil Show appearance, says ‘Comedy is welcome, but no compromise on India’s integrity’

Nitesh rane and ar rahman

• A R Rahman's appearance on Kapil Sharma's show sparks criticism from BJP leader
• Rahman clarifies he never intended to hurt sentiments and values India's culture
• Rahman's comments on Hindi film industry bias spark controversy.

Did our AI summary help?

Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy after his appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show streamed on Netflix sparked criticism from senior BJP leader Nitesh Rane, who claimed Rahman’s earlier statements had “hurt the sentiments of India and the Hindu community.”

A. R. Rahman was featured on the popular comedy talk show alongside the cast of his upcoming silent film Gandhi Talks, including Aditi Rao Hydari, Vijay Sethupathi and Siddharth Jadhav, in a light-hearted episode that aired over the weekend.

Nitesh Rane, a Maharashtra Cabinet minister and BJP MLA, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his objection to Rahman’s appearance on such a widely viewed platform, arguing that Rahman’s recent remarks on alleged bias and “communal” factors in the Hindi film industry were offensive to national and religious sentiments.

कॉमेडी की बात हो तो नाम आता है कपिल शर्मा का, और The Great Indian Kapil Show को देश-विदेश में बड़ी लोकप्रियता मिली है। लेकिन A. R. Rahman के कुछ विवादित बयानों के कारण भारत, इतिहास और हिंदू समाज की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँची है। ऐसी परिस्थिति में उन्हें बड़े मंच पर स्थान देने के…

— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) February 1, 2026

"When it comes to comedy, Kapil Sharma’s name naturally comes to mind, and The Great Indian Kapil Show has gained immense popularity both in India and abroad. However, some controversial statements made by AR Rahman have hurt the sentiments of India, its history, and the Hindu community. In such a situation, we strongly oppose the decision to give him a platform on such a major stage," Rane wrote in Hindi.

He added, "Freedom of entertainment is acceptable, but public sentiment, the feelings of the Hindu community, and national unity must be given priority. We expect Netflix and the show’s makers to reconsider this decision and respect social sensitivity. Comedy is welcome, but no compromise on India’s integrity, cultural identity, and Hindutva is acceptable."

The controversy traces back to an interview Rahman gave to the BBC Asian Network earlier this year, in which he suggested his work opportunities in Bollywood had dwindled over the past eight years and hinted that a “power shift” within the industry — and possibly a communal element — were factors behind it. Rahman also criticised the film Chhaava as divisive, which further fuelled the backlash from right-wing groups.

On The Great Indian Kapil Show, Rahman used a segment involving the popular whisper game to comment on how messages can get “corrupted” as they are passed along, a point many observers saw as an indirect response to the misunderstanding around his earlier remarks.

Also read: AR Rahman reacts to his communal remark on The Great Indian Kapil Show: "Messages get corrupted on the way"

In the face of mounting criticism, Rahman issued a video clarification on social media, emphasising that India is his inspiration, his teacher and his home, and that he had never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments with his comments. He reiterated his lifelong commitment to uplifting and honouring culture through music, acknowledging that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood.