Renowned music composer A.R. Rahman has recently opened up about a significant decline in his work within the Bollywood film industry over the past eight years. In an interview, he directly attributed this professional setback to a 'power shift' where, in his view, 'people who are not creative have the power now'. Rahman further speculated that the situation 'might be a communal thing also', though he clarified that this perception comes to him as 'Chinese whispers' rather than overt discrimination. This isn't the first time the Oscar and Grammy-winning artist has spoken about facing obstacles in Bollywood. In 2020, Rahman had previously hinted at a 'gang' in the industry spreading 'false rumours' about him, which he believed was hindering his opportunities. He recounted an incident where casting director Mukesh Chhabra was advised against approaching him for work, revealing the kind of subtle resistance he encountered. Rahman also shared that he felt like an outsider in Hindi cinema initially and had to learn Hindi and Urdu to better integrate, a decision he made after feeling 'humiliated' by poor Hindi translations of his Tamil songs. Despite these past and recent challenges, Rahman has expressed contentment with his current workload. He mentioned that his 'plates are full' with diverse and challenging projects, including collaborations with long-time directors like Mani Ratnam and Imtiaz Ali, which he finds 'very satisfying'. This story highlights ongoing discussions about dynamics within the Indian film industry, particularly concerning talent, power structures, and perceived biases. The claims have been widely reported and corroborated by several credible Indian news outlets, including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, News18, and MensXP.