Who is Saira Banu? Here's how AR Rahman and his wife fell in love

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Popular singer AR Rahman and his wife Saira Banu recently took to social media and shocked everyone with their separation announcement. The two are parting ways after being together for 29 years. Amid their separation news, a look at their love story.

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In an interview, AR Rahman revealed that his mother arranged his marriage with Saira. He also said that his mother and his sister saw Saira at the shrine of the Sufi saint Moti Baba in Chennai for the first time. He said, 'My mother didn’t know Saira or her family, but as they lived five houses away from the shrine, they walked over and talked to Saira. It was all very easy'.

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AR Rahman recalled meeting Saira for the first time and said, 'She was beautiful and gentle. We met for the first time on 6 January 1995, on my twenty-eighth birthday. It was a brief meeting. After that, we mostly chatted on the phone. Saira speaks Kutchi and English and I asked her in English if she wanted to marry me. Saira was very quiet in those days. Now she’s anything but quiet'.

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Saira was born on December 20, 1973, in Kutch, Gujarat and comes from a culturally rich upper-middle-class family.

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AR Rahman and Saira got married in 1995 in an arranged setup and are parents to three children – Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen.

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On Tuesday, November 19, AR Rahman and Saira shared an official statement which read, 'After many years of marriage, Mrs Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband Mr AR Rahman. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time. Mrs Saira emphasised that she has taken this decision out of pain and agony. Mrs Saira requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time, as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life'.

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Saira and AR Rahman kept their personal lives largely private and rarely shared details about their family.

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Saira is known for her social and charitable activities. Her contribution towards society is remarkable.

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AR Rahman said that he and Saura got married in the same building. He said, 'Saira and I were married in Chennai on 12 March 1995, in the same building where I opened the AM Studios in 2006. I had a fixed smile on my face on my wedding day and at the end of those three hours, I remember every muscle in my face ached'.