Lata ji and I knew each other for years but there were instances that brought us closer and I got to know the person Lata ji was. At first it was during the 1971 war when I was made chairperson of the Bangladesh Sahayak Samiti of Maharashtra. I had the responsibility of organising a concert at Brabourne stadium in its support. Among the artistes we called, it was natural Lata ji was top of mind.

I went over to invite her but she said ‘no’. She said she wouldn’t perform live in India. But she agreed when she learnt of the cause and the concert was successful. Later she joined us when Sunil Dutt’s troupe toured the war-torn zones to entertain jawans. Travelling with us were Nargis, Mala Sinha and others.

We were put up for a night at an army quarter in Chittagong when suddenly there was a water crisis. Now, I cannot go a day without having a bath. I wondered if I could shower in Lata ji’s room which still had some water left. Nargis warned: ‘Are you mad? Lata ji is very sensitive and may get upset if you intrude into her space. She might even refuse to sing’. Not heeding, I showed up at Lata ji’s door and she ushered me inside without hesitation.

But as luck would have it, the tap ran dry while I was still in the shower. So I knocked on the bathroom door. Lata ji came close and asked me what the matter was. On informing her of my plight, she arranged for two buckets of water and carried them with her own hands to the bathroom.

Later when I told Nargis of what had happened she was stunned! When we returned to India, Lata ji arranged for a dinner party where she cooked for us, made lovely kebabs and gifted us beautiful sarees.