Aryana Sayeed’s career exemplifies how music can be powerful. In her 16-year career, the Afghan pop sensation has used her music to champion Afghan women’s rights and highlight their plight. Now, she has made her Bollywood debut with My Melbourne—an anthology of short films helmed by Rima Das, Kabir Khan, Arif Ali and Onir—in which she has sung Rukna nahi. Speaking to mid-day from Istanbul, where she has been residing since leaving Afghanistan in 2021, she says, “Rukna nahi was written beautifully, with powerful lyrics. As a human rights activist, I relate to such projects.”

The film was launched by AR Rahman in 2022. For Sayeed, it was surreal to earn his appreciation. “I met AR Rahman in Melbourne when the movie was launched, and he expressed that he loved the song. He came across as such a sweet gentleman. Later, he tweeted about the song and tagged me. I admire his work; he is a living legend.”