AR Rahman practised veena, estranged wife slept in another room during honeymoon

AR Rahman and his now-estranged wife Saira announced separation on November 19. The duo, who were married for 29 years, decided to separate over an insurmountable gap in their relationship. Amid the announcement, an old interview of Rahman’s brother has been going viral where he claimed that the music maestro and his wife slept in separate rooms on their honeymoon as the former was busy practising music.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan just a few weeks back, AR Rahman’s brother, actor Rahman, had shared an anecdote. It was a light-hearted conversation where he was trying to explain the dedication that Rahman has towards music. He shared, “I remember, when he got married, he took my sister-in-law for the honeymoon to a hill station. I called them that night; it was just 12 or 1… She answered, she was sleeping already. I asked, ‘Where is Rahman?’ She said, ‘I don’t know’. He was in another room, practising his veena. He was composing something; he’s that kind of person.”
AR Rahman’s estranged wife, Saira Banu, announced their separation on November 19. “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,” the statement read.
The Oscar-winning musician responded to it with a post on X that read, “We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter (sic).”
Both of them, as well as their families, have requested privacy.