A.R. Rahman Shares How an Astrologer Named Him and His Hindu Roots
From the horse’s mouth!
Few are unfamiliar with the melodic genius A.R. Rahman.
His exceptional talent in music gained international recognition, especially with the Oscar-winning track “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire (2008). However, his contributions to music are extensive and deeply influential.
The Name Change
In an exclusive interview with Dawn, Rahman shared an intriguing aspect of his identity: he was originally named Dilip Kumar. Following his father’s passing, his family adopted Islam.
He expressed, “I never felt a connection to my name. I mean no offense to the esteemed actor Dilip Kumar, but it simply didn’t resonate with how I viewed myself.” He recounted a visit to an astrologer that coincided with his desire for a name change as his family sought guidance for his sister’s marriage prospects.
The astrologer proposed two names: Abdul Rahman and Abdul Rahim. Rahman felt an immediate connection to the name Rahman. It was a Hindu astrologer who offered him this Muslim name, which he cherished. “My mother then suggested adding Allahrakha, which means ‘protected by God,’ and that’s how I became A.R. Rahman,” he elaborated.
Language Barriers
Reflecting on his experiences with the Hindi language, Rahman mentioned to NDTV Good Times how his struggles with Hindi left him feeling “humiliated.” This motivated him to improve his command of the language after encountering subpar translations of his Tamil compositions.
What are your thoughts on the story behind A.R. Rahman’s name?
