Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has finally stepped in to end the growing speculation around the Oscar-winning song Jai Ho. After social media buzz suggested that RGV had claimed singer Sukhwinder Singh — and not A. R. Rahman — composed the iconic track, the director has now issued a clear and firm clarification.
RGV made it known that he has no intention of letting misinformation distort the legacy of one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated musical achievements.
“I Am Being Misquoted,” Says RGV
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Ram Gopal Varma addressed the controversy head-on, stating that his remarks from an old interview were taken out of context and misrepresented.
“To all concerned… I am being misquoted and misread out of context in the matter of the Jai Ho song,” he wrote.
The filmmaker, who famously collaborated with Rahman on Rangeela, went on to heap praise on the composer, making his stance unambiguous.
“In my view, @arrahman is the greatest composer and the nicest human being I ever met, and he’s the last person to take away anybody’s credit,” RGV added, hoping to put an end to what he described as unnecessary negativity.
What Sparked the Confusion?
The controversy erupted after a clip from an old RGV interview resurfaced online. In the viral segment, Varma narrated an anecdote involving Rahman, Sukhwinder Singh, and filmmaker Subhash Ghai during the time Rahman was working on Yuvvraaj.
In the clip, RGV recounts an incident where Sukhwinder allegedly played a tune in Rahman’s presence, which Rahman appreciated, and later asked Sukhwinder to complete and send it. The story then went on to mention that Sukhwinder received a payment much later, allegedly linked to Jai Ho.
However, many viewers wrongly interpreted the anecdote as RGV claiming that Rahman did not compose Jai Ho — a conclusion Varma has now firmly rejected.
RGV Sets the Record Straight
Varma clarified that his story was never meant to suggest that Rahman stole credit or didn’t compose the song. Instead, he emphasized that Rahman has always been respectful of creative contributions and transparent in his professional dealings.
By directly addressing the issue, RGV made it clear that social media narratives had twisted a contextual industry anecdote into a damaging claim that was never intended.
About Jai Ho and Its Legacy
Composed by A. R. Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire, Jai Ho became a global phenomenon upon its release. The song went on to win Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score in 2009, marking a historic moment for Indian music on the world stage.
The track features vocals by Rahman himself, along with Sukhwinder Singh, Tanvi, Mahalakshmi Iyer, and Vijay Prakash. The film starred Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Dev Patel, and Freida Pinto, among others.
Final Words
With this clarification, Ram Gopal Varma has decisively shut down the rumours and reaffirmed his respect for A. R. Rahman’s artistry and integrity. In an era where old clips can easily be stripped of context and weaponised online, RGV’s statement serves as a reminder that viral claims don’t always reflect the truth.
For now, the legacy of Jai Ho — and Rahman’s role in creating it — remains untouched and undisputed.
