Recently, there has been much talk about the separation between the famous music composer A R Rahman and his wife, Saira Banu. The couple confirmed their divorce through a press conference held in Chennai, with their lawyers present. Amidst their marital split, the presence of someone has been speculated as the cause of the separation. According to unconfirmed reports, this 'third party' is none other than Rahman’s band guitarist, Mohini Day. Coincidentally, on the same day Rahman’s divorce news surfaced, Mohini too announced her divorce from her husband. Now, in this context, Mohini Day has made a statement, saying that Rahman is like a father figure to her.
A R Rahman and Saira Banu, who got married 29 years ago in a love marriage, have three grown children—Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, and A R Ameen. When the news of the music composer’s divorce broke, their daughter Raheema was the first to tweet on X, urging people to respect their family’s privacy and dignity. The couple’s other children also made similar appeals. Clearly, Rahman’s family holds him in high regard and love. In the meantime, Saira Banu, who lives in Mumbai, stated that her decision to separate was due to her health condition and the need for treatment away from Chennai. According to Saira Banu, she did not want her illness to become an obstacle to Rahman’s work, which is why she took this step—a testament to her remarkable strength and support for him.
A R Rahman and Saira Banu, who got married 29 years ago in a love marriage, have three grown children—Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, and A R Ameen. When the news of the music composer’s divorce broke, their daughter Raheema was the first to tweet on X, urging people to respect their family’s privacy and dignity. The couple’s other children also made similar appeals. Clearly, Rahman’s family holds him in high regard and love. In the meantime, Saira Banu, who lives in Mumbai, stated that her decision to separate was due to her health condition and the need for treatment away from Chennai. According to Saira Banu, she did not want her illness to become an obstacle to Rahman’s work, which is why she took this step—a testament to her remarkable strength and support for him.
Now, let’s turn to Mohini Day’s perspective.
Mohini Day sees A R Rahman as a father figure, noting that their ages are quite similar. She says, "His age is almost the same as my father’s." Mohini, a Bengali woman, had moved to Mumbai and received a guitar as a gift when she was just nine years old. She trained in music under Ranjit Barot and Louis Banks and has worked on several video albums. A talented bassist and expert on multiple instruments, Mohini worked with Harteruth on an album and later married him. It is said to be a coincidence that Mohini and her husband filed for divorce on the same day as Rahman and Saira. Mohini has worked with many famous pop musicians and is known as a bassist for some of the top names in the music industry, including A R Rahman.
Regarding the rumors surrounding her relationship with Rahman, Mohini clarifies, "Rahman’s daughter is of my age, and she has a father of the same age as Rahman. I have great respect for Rahman Sahib."
Of course, sparks do fly, and these things happen quite often in Bollywood. There are numerous such relationships, be it Guru-Disciple, Uncle-Niece, or Godfather-like bonds, that often shine brightly in the industry. For now, however, we’ll remain quiet on the matter.
by Sharad Rai
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