AR Rahman decided he would only meet Michael Jackson if he won an Oscar.
Renowned music composer AR Rahman recently shared a remarkable story about nearly collaborating with the legendary Michael Jackson before the King of Pop’s untimely death in 2009. The collaboration was tantalizingly close, but circumstances led Rahman to ultimately decline a meeting with Jackson.
Rahman revealed that during the early 2000s, he expressed a desire to meet Michael. His manager had assured him that such a meeting could be arranged, which set the stage for what could have been an iconic collaboration between two musical geniuses. However, Rahman found himself being strung along for a week, waiting for the meeting to materialize. Frustrated by the uncertainty, he made a bold decision.
In a moment of introspection, Rahman decided he would only meet Michael Jackson if he won an Oscar. He reasoned that such an achievement would validate his work and make the meeting even more special. “I thought for a moment and said, ‘I will meet him if I win,’” Rahman recalled. “Otherwise, I don’t want to meet him”.
This decision came to fruition when Rahman won two Oscars for his work on “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009. Buoyed by his success, he finally met Jackson. Rahman recounted the surreal experience of meeting Jackson, who greeted him with his iconic gloves and sunglasses. The two artists spent hours discussing various subjects, including their creative processes and philosophies on art and life.
During their conversation, Jackson praised Rahman’s work on the song “Jai Ho,” and in a memorable moment, Jackson even danced for Rahman, illustrating the spontaneous and soulful nature of his performances.
Though their collaboration never came to pass, the meeting between AR Rahman and Michael Jackson remains a poignant reminder of the mutual respect and admiration shared by these two legendary artists.
