Rahman on Taslima Nasreen criticising his daughter's attire

Music maestro A.R. Rahman says he “didn’t react at all” when he was called out by author Taslima Nasreen for “allowing” his daughter Khatija Rahman to wear a burqa.

Mumbai: A.R. Rahman opens up on the uncalled for criticism that his daughter Khatija Rahman faced from Taslima Nasreen. The music icon said he will never react to such criticism.

In an interview with a tabloid, Rahman was asked about the war of words that broke out between his daughter and Taslima. Reacting to to the social media spat, Rahman said his kids are brought up in a way where they have inherited the good and bad, but they also have their free will.

“I think what’s good is if we bring them up in a way that they (children) know our troubles, they know our problems. They know that they have to inherit the good and the bad from us. That’s it. And then, they are given free will and she did it and then I asked her, ‘What about the next question? Did you answer that?’ (She said) that’s it daddy, I am done,” Rahman said in the interview.

When asked if Khatija consulted him before posting a response on social media, Rahman said: “No I think she put it out and then I put it out on Instagram. I thought it was needed because she is behind the veil and it’s her choice.”

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Rahman made it clear that Khatija's attire is more than a religious thing, it is her personal choice and she has freedom to wear what she wants.

“More than the religious thing I think, I personally think it is a psychological thing. Because she sang a song and around 10 million people were having it as their ringtone. If you take a little kid who is an introvert and suddenly people are spamming them with good and bad, anybody would shut off,” he said.

“A male is not supposed to wear a burqa, otherwise I will wear one. It would be so easy to go and shop, find steady life. You know, I think, she finds her freedom. Because she is somebody who will go for a funeral of a maid's mother or maid's relative. And I get awestruck with her simplicity and what she does socially,” quipped Rahman.

For unversed, recently Taslima commented that she feels suffocating when she looks at Khatija wearing a burqa at events. Soon, Khatija gave a befitting reply to the Lajja author with a post on Instagram.