Rani Mukerji reacts to AR Rahman’s ‘communal’ remark on Bollywood: ‘It’s the most secular place to be... here, merit matters’

Rani Mukerji, who is gearing up to reprise her role as Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3, has weighed in on AR Rahman’s recent remark suggesting that Bollywood has become “communal.” In a recent interview, the actress firmly dismissed the claim, calling the Hindi film industry one of the most inclusive spaces she has experienced.

Addressing Rahman’s statement, Rani told DD News, “Bollywood is the most secular place, and I truly believe that. There is no discrimination based on caste or religion. In my 30 years in the industry, I have never experienced anything like this. I love this industry—it made me who I am today.




I am saying this from the bottom of my heart: here, merit matters. Your work speaks for you, and ultimately, the person the audience connects with is the one who survives and succeeds. For me, Bollywood remains the most secular and one of the most amazing places to be.”

When asked about the existence of different lobbies within the industry — including Bengali, Punjabi, or Malayali groups — Rani made it clear that she stays away from such narratives. She said, “I stay far away from all of that. I only focus on my films, and at this stage of my life, my priority is my child and my family.”

About Mardaani 3

Mardaani 3 is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra. While Mardaani tackled the harsh realities of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the chilling mind of a serial rapist, the third installment delves into another dark and brutal social reality, continuing the franchise’s legacy of strong, issue-driven storytelling.

Actor Janaki Bodiwala, best known for Shaitaan, joins the franchise in a pivotal role. The film has been written by Aayush Gupta of The Railway Men fame and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 30.

What AR Rahman had said

For context, AR Rahman had sparked the debate during a recent interaction with BBC Asian Network, where he spoke about receiving fewer work offers in Bollywood. He 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. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, ‘Oh, that's great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family.’”



The Oscar-winning composer faced significant backlash online following the remark and later issued an apology through a video statement on his social media, clarifying that he did not intend to hurt sentiments.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”