AR Rahman opens up about financial difficulties, knows his children can squander his wealth if they aren’t ‘smart enough’

Musician AR Rahman opened up about the potentially overwhelming legacy that he will leave behind for his three children -- Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen -- each of whom is working alongside him and building their musical careers. Rahman said that if they aren't smart about it, they can squander everything they inherit.

To emphasise his point, Rahman spoke about the financial hardships that he experienced in his youth. In an interview with The Hindu, he said that those difficulties have made him who he is today, and that he doesn't exclude his children from conversations about money. "One thing I was very clear about; whatever money I leave for anyone, it’ll disappear in a day if they are not smart enough and don’t understand the legacy,” he said, adding that his studio could turn into a 'godown' if they don't take proper care of it.

Rahman recalled, "I went through so much financial trouble along with my mom and sisters, but those lessons — the burden that I shared with my mom — made me who I am today. Even now, those experiences help me make grounded decisions. So I really want my children to be aware of everything going on; I don’t believe in hiding any bad news or problems from them. I even inform them if I get a loan for a building and the mortgage I’m paying. This is not to torture them, but only to make them learn.”

Touching on the subject of nepotism, he said, "When it comes to them following me into music and charting their respective paths, well, people nowadays have learnt this new term... nepotism. I have built all this stuff, this entire world; if my kids aren’t into it, this entire place is going to become a godown! Every step, every inch of every wall, and every chair in my studio has been selected with so much passion and care, and I hope for them to take over from me in the future.”

Rahman was only nine years old when his father died, and he started providing for his family at a very young age. In an earlier interview with O2 India, Rahman's late mother Kareema Begum had spoken about the heartbreaking decision to pull him out of school, so that he could devote all his time to music, and by extension, earn money for his family. “For us to survive, he had to earn. Thus, I asked him to continue with music and discontinue his schooling," she said.