In her first statement after their separation, Saira Banu released an audio note hitting back at the media and content creators for spreading rumours about her separation with her former husband and composer-singer AR Rahman. In a detailed audio note, she explained the reason for her separation and requested the media not to tarnish his name.
She called him "the best man in the world" and a "gem of a person" whom she trusts with her life. She revealed that she had been physically unwell for a couple of months, and wanted to take a break from AR Rahman.
In the audio clip that has now been widely circulated by the media, she said, "This is Saira Rahman here. I'm currently in Bombay. I've been physically unwell for the last couple of months. So that's the reason I just wanted to take a break from AR, but I would request the entire YouTube YouTubers, the Tamil Media, please please do not say anything bad against him. He's a gem of a person, the best man in the world."
She also added, "Yes, it's it's just because of, my health issues I had to leave Chennai because I knew if I'm not in Chennai, you people will wonder where she is. And I've come here to Bombay. I'm going ahead with my treatment, and this wouldn't have been possible with AR's busy schedule in Chennai, and I didn't want to disturb anybody, neither my children nor him."
"But he's an amazing human being. And all I would request is please just let him be the way he is. He is not linked with, I trust him with my life. That's how much I love him, and that's how much he does. So I kindly request you to stop all the false allegations against him, and God bless. And my sincere prayers that we are left alone and given space at this moment, not announced officially anything yet," further said Saira.
The note comes a day after AR Rahman issued a legal notice against social media platforms and youtubers for making a series of "calumny and defamatory write-ups" about his personal life. Representing Rahman, his counsel clarified saying that there is no "iota of truth in any of the programs, interviews attributing obscene contents thereby intending to harm the reputation of my client and also intended to be hurtful to his family." The notice warned offenders to remove the objectionable content within a maximum time duration of 24 hours, or face a criminal defamation case.
Saira Banu and AR Rahman announced their separation on November 19, 29 years after their marriage. They have three children: Raheema, Ameen, and Khatija.