When AR Rahman accepted wife Saira would get ‘frustrated’ early in their marriage, had to adjust: ‘When she is angry…’

He recalled his first meeting with Saira and described it as “funny.” “Because till then, I never had the intention of seeing a girl with that kind of look so it was funny at first,” he recalled and added, “I asked her if she would marry me or if she had anything else on her mind. She said yes. She said she liked one of my songs and we talked about that.”

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When asked how Saira was as a person, Rahman said, “She is calm when she is calm. When she gets angry, she is angry. There are two sides of her. Initially, she used to get frustrated. I mean not going out… generally you can’t go out for shopping or…” He was asked if the marriage was a big “adjustment” for Saira and he said, “I did tell her in the beginning what kind of life she is going to lead. She was in agreement before.”

Saira’s lawyer Vandana Shah released a statement on Tuesday evening announcing their separation. A part of the statement read, “After many years of marriage, Mrs Saira and her husband Mr AR Rahman have made the difficult decision to separate from each other. 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 and her husband Mr AR Rahman emphasize that they have taken this decision out of pain and agony. Mrs. Saira and her husband Mr AR Rahman request privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as they navigate this difficult chapter in their life.”