AR Rahman and Saira Banu announce divorce after 29 years of marriage

AR Rahman's wife, Saira, has made a shocking announcement about her divorce  with the music maestro.

On November 19, Saira's lawyer, Vandana Shah publicized in an official statement, "After many years of marriage, Mrs Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband Mr. AR Rahman."

"This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time."

"Mrs Saira emphasised that she has taken this decision out of pain and agony. Mrs Saira requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life,” the statement read.

During a conversation with Simi Garewal on her talk show, Rahman shared that his mother arranged the marriage, as he didn’t have the time to search for a bride himself. 

Rahman shared, “To be honest, I didn’t have time to search for a bride. I was busy with films, including Rangeela in Bombay. But I knew it was the right time to get married. I was 29 and told my mother, ‘Find me a bride.’"

Rahman also mentioned that he asked his mother to find him a 'simple' woman who wouldn’t give him much trouble, allowing him to focus on his music and hoping she would inspire him. 

The two, who got married in 1995, are parents to three children; Khatija, Raheema and Ameen.