After nearly 30 years of marriage, Saira Banu today announced that she has made the "difficult decision to separate" from her husband and Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, said multiple media reports.
The decision, said her lawyers, 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," read a statement from her lawyers as quoted by India Today.
"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," the statement said further.
The couple married in 1995 and are parents to three children: Khatija, Raheema and Ameen.
AR Rahman, who won the Oscar for his work on Slumdog Millionaire, was once dubbed "the Mozart of Madras" by Time magazine.
The musician, who started playing music at the age of five, got his first break with the 1992 movie Roja. It was a hit, and Rahman's soundtrack led to him winning the national award for best music composer.