Jaaved Jaaferi reacts to AR Rahman’s 'communal' remark, says "Industry has changed like the world has changed"

Jaaved Jaaferi reacts to AR Rahman comment

• Jaaved Jaaferi: Industry changes show global shifts, not just communal bias
• He cites data, attention span, and business as key in creative decisions.

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Actor Jaaved Jaaferi is the latest celebrity to share his thoughts on A. R. Rahman's recent comments regarding alleged communal bias in the Hindi cinema industry. The actor has offered a more comprehensive view of how the industry has changed over time.

Speaking to IANS during promotions of his next movie, Mayasabha, Jaaved Jaaferi was asked if he had personally encountered anything similar to what AR Rahman claimed.

The actor opted to place the problem in the perspective of broader shifts influencing the entertainment industry. Over the course of his more than 40-year career, Jaaved has witnessed the industry's transformation across generations, formats, and business models.

In response to the Oscar and Grammy-winning composer's remarks, Jaaved stated that the industry's development reflects the quick changes taking place globally.

Jaaved said, “Industry has changed like the world has changed. Digital. AI. The world is changing. Fashion is changing, food is changing. Values are changing. Obviously, the narrative is changing. I just came to know recently that the attention span of Gen Z or Alpha is 6 seconds.”

Jaaved went on to discuss how these changes are affecting decision-making and narrative in modern movies.

He elaborated, “Channel heads says that if you cannot capture it in 6 seconds, it’s gone. It’s how rapidly we are changing. That’s it. Fine. There has been some structure. There have been some opportunities. You can narrate a story in long-format, in a film, you get limited time. There are choices but at the same time, there is business. There are numbers. You are making a project. Not a film.”

Jaaved seems to emphasize the growing influence of data, attention metrics, and business concerns in determining creative chances rather than explicitly addressing accusations of prejudice.

Also Read: AR Rahman accused of plagiarising Roja's Pudhu Vellai Mazhai from Yanni’s 1989 Track

A. R. Rahman's comments in an interview with BBC Asian Network about getting less job opportunities in Bollywood in recent years sparked the controversy surrounding him. Rahman proposed that the chances he has encountered over the previous eight years may have been influenced by changes in power relations and "communal" elements, such as religion, regional identity, and industrial politics.

The singer's remarks sparked intense responses on social media and other media outlets, with many seeing them as accusations of prejudice or discrimination in the Hindi cinema business.