Legendary singer and music composer AR Rahman’s wife, Saira, has announced their separation. Rahman and Saira got married on March 12, 1995, in Chennai and have three children together: Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen.
A report from India Today revealed that Saira’s lawyers issued a formal statement on Tuesday, November 19, confirming the separation.
The statement read, “After many years of marriage, Mrs. Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, Mr. AR Rahman, due to significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep affection for each other, the couple has realized that the tensions and challenges they faced have created an insurmountable gap, which neither feels able to overcome at this moment.”
It continued, “Mrs. Saira expressed that this decision comes with a great deal of pain and sorrow. She kindly requests privacy and understanding from the public as she navigates through this challenging period in her life.”
Rahman has yet to release any official comment regarding the situation.
Earlier in July, Rahman and Saira were seen together at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.
Rahman and Saira’s relationship history
In a past interview, Rahman shared details about his marriage, describing his first impression of Saira as one of beauty and gentleness. He recalled, “We met for the first time on January 6, 1995, my 28th birthday. It was a brief encounter. Afterward, we mostly communicated over the phone. Saira spoke Kutchi and English, and I asked her in English if she would marry me. She was very quiet at the time, but now she is far from quiet.”
Regarding his family’s reaction to their marriage, Rahman said, “We are South Indians, and Saira comes from a Gujarati background with a North Indian upbringing. It was challenging for my family, especially for my mother, who was quite possessive of me. Since we lived as a joint family, it took some time to adjust. In 1995, our eldest daughter Khatija was born, and everything settled after that.”