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A.R. Rahman Reveals He Was Advised Not to Work With Danny Boyle Before Oscar-Winning Slumdog Millionaire

Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 09:19

A.R. Rahman has revealed he was initially advised against working with director Danny Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire — the film that ultimately earned the Indian composer two Academy Awards.

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has revealed that he was advised not to work with British filmmaker Danny Boyle before collaborating on Slumdog Millionaire.

Rahman has recalled how the project came together before the 2008 film went on to become an international phenomenon.

According to The Indian Express, Rahman said he was cautioned against working with Boyle, but ultimately decided to take on the project.

The decision proved to be one of the defining moments of his international career.

Rahman composed the film's music in around three weeks, with the soundtrack subsequently earning worldwide acclaim.

At the 2009 Academy Awards, Rahman made history by winning two Oscars — Best Original Score and Best Original Song for Jai Ho.

The film itself became a global success and significantly expanded Rahman's profile with international audiences.

More than 17 years later, the composer’s recollection offers a glimpse at how differently one of the most celebrated collaborations between Indian and British cinema might have turned out.

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