Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has received the prestigious Academy of Achievement Award at a star-studded ceremony in Washington, D.C., joining a roster of global luminaries including Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mavis Staples. The honour, presented by filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, comes as Rahman readies major projects like Mani Ratnam’s next film and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana with Hans Zimmer.
Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman was awarded the Academy of Achievement Award in a star-studded evening in Washington, D.C. on June 24.
The Academy of Achievement is a non-profit foundation that connects young leaders with accomplished world innovators, leaders and pioneers who have helped shaped their industries and the world.
Previous recipients of the award have been Volodymyr Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine), Mavis Staples (American singer and civil rights activist), Sir Roger Penrose (English Mathematician), Jon Batiste (Singer, Songwriter and Activist) and Gustavo Dudamel (Venezuelan conductor and the music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic), among many others.
Rahman took to X and Instagram to share this moment, posting a picture of him receiving the award from New Zealand filmmaker, entrepreneur and visual effects pioneer, Sir Peter Robert Jackson.
The posts read: “I am deeply humbled to receive the Academy of Achievement Award this evening. #Washington #PeterJacksonnz #EPI“
Rahman, a two-time winner and five-time nominee of the Academy Award, recently composed some of the most widely-acclaimed film soundtracks this year such as Main Vaapas Aaunga and Peddi.
His work will also be featured in Mani Ratnam's upcoming, still untitled, film that brings together Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi for the first time on screen, and in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming mythological epic Ramayana, where he is composing the soundtrack alongside Hollywood legend Hans Zimmer.
Adding another accolade to his collection and an eclectic lineup of projects ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be yet another prestigious year for Rahman.