Vedang Raina on A. R. Rahman's voice note: 'Most precious thing on my phone'
Synopsis
Vedang Raina's appearance on Indian Idol turned unexpectedly moving when he revealed that a voice note of A. R. Rahman humming a melody on the piano — possibly creating it in real time — is the most precious thing on his phone. Their entire collaboration on 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' happened over FaceTime before they ever met in person.
Key Takeaways
Vedang Raina appeared on Indian Idol on 27 May alongside music legend A.
It was the first time the two met in person, despite having already created a song together for 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' .
Their collaboration was conducted entirely over FaceTime prior to the Indian Idol meeting.
Raina described a voice note of Rahman humming the song's melody on the piano as the 'most precious' thing on his phone. 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' , directed by Imtiaz Ali and starring Sharvari Wagh and Naseeruddin Shah , releases on 12 June .
Actor Vedang Raina revealed on the sets of Indian Idol that a voice note from music legend A. R. Rahman — in which Rahman can be heard humming the melody of their collaborative track on the piano — remains the single most cherished item on his phone. The candid disclosure came during Raina's appearance on the popular singing reality show, where he spoke at length about working with Rahman on the upcoming film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'.
A First Meeting, A Long-Distance Collaboration
Despite having already co-created a song together, 27 May marked the first time Raina and Rahman met in person — on the Indian Idol stage. The actor revealed that their entire creative process prior to this had been conducted remotely. 'We communicated through FaceTime,' Raina said, describing how the two worked across screens to bring the composition to life.
The Voice Note That Captured a Genius at Work
Raina described the voice note in vivid terms: 'I received a voice note where Sir was playing the piano and just humming the melody of this song. That is one of the most precious things that I have on my phone.' He added that the song may not even have been fully formed at that point — suggesting the melody was born in that very moment of spontaneous creation. 'He just hums to that song, and you can tell that the genius is at work,' Raina said. 'It's just so beautiful and I hold that very dearly to me.'
Gratitude and the Bigger Picture
Raina closed his remarks with a note of gratitude to Rahman: 'Thank you, sir, for complimenting us — it really, really means a lot, and thank you for this opportunity.' The exchange underscored the weight that a word of praise from one of India's most celebrated composers carries for a relatively newer face in the industry.
About 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'
The film stars Vedang Raina, Sharvari Wagh, and Naseeruddin Shah in key roles and is directed by Imtiaz Ali. It is set for theatrical release on 12 June. The A. R. Rahman composition that Raina sang for the project is expected to be one of the film's centrepiece tracks, adding to anticipation around the soundtrack.
Point of View
Intuitively, with the melody arriving through the hum before the studio session begins. For Vedang Raina, a rising face in Bollywood, the collaboration signals a deliberate positioning: pairing with Rahman for a debut film soundtrack is a credibility move as much as a creative one. What stands out is that the entire process happened over FaceTime — a reminder that post-pandemic remote collaboration has become normalised even at the highest levels of Indian film music. The real question is whether the Rahman stamp translates to audience pull for a relatively new lead actor in a competitive June release window.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vedang Raina reveal about A. R. Rahman on Indian Idol?
Vedang Raina revealed that he received a voice note from A. R. Rahman in which the composer was playing the piano and humming the melody of their collaborative song for 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'. Raina called it the most precious thing on his phone.
How did Vedang Raina and A. R. Rahman collaborate on 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'?
The two collaborated entirely over FaceTime before meeting in person for the first time on the Indian Idol stage on 27 May. Raina sang in a Rahman composition for the film as part of this remote creative process.
When does 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' release?
'Main Vaapas Aaunga', directed by Imtiaz Ali, is scheduled for theatrical release on 12 June. The film stars Vedang Raina, Sharvari Wagh, and Naseeruddin Shah.
Who is in the cast of 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'?
The film features Vedang Raina, Sharvari Wagh, and Naseeruddin Shah in key roles. It is directed by Imtiaz Ali and features music by A. R. Rahman.
Why is the A. R. Rahman voice note significant to Vedang Raina?
Raina said the voice note captured Rahman humming the song's melody on the piano — possibly in the very moment the melody was being created. He described it as evidence of 'the genius at work' and said he holds the memory very dearly.
