AR Rahman faces backlash for working with POCSO-accused choreographer Jani in Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Peddi: ‘Film industry is rotten’

Soon, many netizens took to social media to express their anger, and condemn AR Rahman for his decision. What seems to have miffed even his most ardent fans is that the same Rahman, who stopped collaborating with lyricist Vairamuthu and singer Karthik soon after they were accused of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement, overlooked the grave accusations against Jani, who was charged under the POCSO Act as well. While some suggested that he might have been unaware of the case, most others dismissed the argument, saying that a year is too long a time not to have known about such an incident.

While one user noted on Reddit, “The entire film industry doesn’t give a flying fu** about sexual assault. Just recently, Mari Selvaraj and Nivas decided to work with Vedan despite all his allegations, and nobody called them out for it,” another netizen outrightly wrote, “the film industry is rotten.” A third user noted, “It’s hard to believe that he doesn’t know about his allegations,” categorically rejecting the possibility that Rahman was unaware of the accusations against Jani. One Redditor wondered, “How is Jani any different from Vairamuthu? If ARR outright rejected Vairamuthu, why doesn’t he do the same to this pedophile?”

We grew up watching and dancing to Legendary @arrahman Sir’s songs and I can’t believe I choreographed this chartbuster #ChikiriChikiri in his composition. Thank you for your kind words of support Sir 😍https://t.co/zpSXGIwoUx

Grateful for the opportunity Mega Power Star… pic.twitter.com/trH47E0ZdW

— Jani Master (@AlwaysJani) November 9, 2025

Quote-tweeting Jani’s post on X (formerly Twitter), one netizen wrote, “Wasn’t he (Jani) expelled from the dancers’ association for POCSO charges? Then how’s he getting chances again to work? And ARR choosing not to work with Vairamuthu for a case that’s not been charged, while happily posing with a pedo who’s under bail, is something I can’t wrap my head around.” Meanwhile, another Twitterati commented, “Never expected this from Rahman. He stopped working with talented Singer Karthik. I respect his principle. But why is he comfortable working with Jani? Might as well collab with Karthik as well. Say no to hypocrisy.” One person noted, “Posing with an ex felon. A lot of celebs have selective amnesia but I truly didn’t expect this from ARR.”

However, unlike AR Rahman, Peddi’s lead actors, Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, have not faced significant backlash despite collaborating with Jani in the same project, prompting suspicion that the entire episode is a targeted attack on the composer. Regardless, many have noted that the incident further highlights the film industry’s tendency to readily embrace people with even serious criminal records.

In September 2024, choreographer Shaik Jani Basha was arrested in Goa after he was accused of sexually assaulting a junior choreographer. Initially, an FIR was registered against him on rape charges. Then, sections of the POCSO Act were added to the case based on claims that the complainant was a minor when he allegedly sexually assaulted her for the first time. He was granted interim bail later. Meanwhile, in the subsequent weeks, Jani won a National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in “Megam Karukkatha” from Thiruchitrambalam (2022). Later, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revoked the award following the filing of the POCSO case against him.