After Lata Mangeshkar praises Fanney Khan song, Anil Kapoor reflects on his four-decade-long equation with legend
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 24, 2018)

When Lata Mangeshkar took to Twitter to shower praise on the song, Achche Din, from Anil Kapoor-starrer Fanney Khan last week, many were surprised. Few know that the legendary singer shares a four-decade-long bond with the Kapoor family.

"When I called her up to thank her for tweeting about the song, Lata ji said, 'Take your words back. How can you thank me? I am a member of your family.' She always calls up and compliments me whenever she like any of my films. For me, her compliment is bigger than any award," says Kapoor, as he reflects on his journey of growing up listening to Mangeshkar's soulful voice.

The actor reveals that he first met her during the recording of a song for Ponga Pandit (1975), which was produced by father Surinder Kapoor. "It was a romantic-cum-sexy song. The music composers and my dad were apprehensive whether she would sing it because she is particular about the kind of songs she lends her voice to," he says, adding that she was more than happy to give her nod.

It is their shared affection that made the otherwise reticent Mangeshkar make a special appearance in the song, Ek Tu Hi Bharosa, in Kapoor's Pukar (2000). "In a bid to convince her, we showed her the film. She liked it so much that she specially flew down to Hyderabad for the shoot. Despite being averse to night shoots, Lata ji filmed at night for us."