EXCLUSIVE: Ram Gopal Varma reveals Aamir Khan feared AR Rahman’s “slightly feminine” vocals in ‘Aiyayo’ would make people laugh
As Rangeela returned to theatres on November 28, 2025, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma revisited memories from the film’s making during a conversation with Bollywood Hungama. Among them was an anecdote about Aamir Khan’s early reservations over the now-iconic song ‘Aiyayo.’
Varma recalled that Aamir, who was deeply involved creatively, initially felt that A.R. Rahman’s chosen vocal texture didn’t fit his character. “He is a very passionate man… he understands cinema. So obviously, in that kind of thing, you should have a discussion,” Varma said, explaining that Aamir’s concerns were rooted in how audiences might react.
According to Varma, Aamir told Rahman, “People will laugh if I sing that. The voice doesn’t match.” At the time, the actor was accustomed to playback by singers like Udit Narayan, whose tone he closely identified with. Rahman’s approach for ‘Aiyayo,’ Varma explained, leaned toward a lighter, more delicate vocal quality — “slightly feminine… not even soft… unusual,” as he described it.
Varma said he believed that contrast was exactly what made the song work. “I said, I think that’s what will sound different. And it fits the concept and the situation of the song — the vacuum he is expressing,” he shared. Despite his initial hesitation, Aamir eventually agreed, and the song went on to become one of the film’s memorable emotional moments.
The filmmaker, who also recently spoke about corporate systems limiting creativity and why a film like Animal “can never come out of a corporate setup,” continues to reflect on Rangeela as a defining chapter of his career — one shaped by instinct, experimentation, and trusted collaboration.
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