who is saira banu; lesser known facts about ar rahman's ex-wife?

after 29 years of marriage, AR Rahman & his wife have split up

Saira was born in Dec 1973 in Kutch, Gujarat to an upper middle-class family

She is almost 7 years younger than the 57 year-old AR Rahman

they had an arranged marriage; fixed by Rahman’s mother

he first met her on 6 Jan 1995, during his 28th birthday

 2 months later, the duo tied the knot on March 12, 1995, in Chennai

Saira spoke Kutchi & English, so Rahman proposed to her in English

The ceremony was in the same building where he would later establish the AM Studios in 2006

Saira is known for her philanthropic work, in  education, healthcare, & community development