The recently released Hollywood film 'Michael' has opened to a strong response at the box office, bringing renewed attention to the legacy of Michael Jackson. Amid the buzz, an old anecdote shared by A. R. Rahman about his meeting with the King of Pop has resurfaced.
Meeting with MJ
In a 2024 interaction during a fan meet in Malaysia, Rahman spoke about a memorable encounter with Michael Jackson in 2009, shortly after his Academy Awards win for Slumdog Millionaire. He revealed that he was introduced to Jackson’s team while in Los Angeles and had initially sought a meeting. However, when the opportunity finally came, Rahman chose to meet him only after winning the Oscar.
Describing the moment, in a video shared by Free Malaysia, Rahman said he met Jackson at a residence in Los Angeles the day after his big win. The composer recalled Jackson as “very kind,” adding that their conversation revolved around music and world peace. Jackson even suggested collaborating on a new version of “We Are the World” and introduced Rahman to his children.
What made the meeting even more intriguing was the possibility of a collaboration for Enthiran, directed by S. Shankar and starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Rahman revealed that Shankar had asked if Jackson could sing for the film. “I said, wow, will he sing a Tamil song?” Rahman recalled, adding that the idea was seriously considered.
Why the collaboration didn't happen
However, the collaboration never materialised, as Michael Jackson passed away in June 2009. Rahman noted that the singer was unwell at the time. Despite the absence of an international voice, 'Enthiran' went on to become a major success, with its soundtrack widely appreciated. Its sequel, 2.0, released in 2018, also featured Rahman’s music and starred Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson alongside Rajinikanth.
On the work front, Rahman continues to stay busy with multiple projects, including Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
