Asha Bhosle had to bring in her 87th b’day in Lonavala, away from her siblings, because of the pandemic
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2020)

Asha Bhosle took off to her Lonavala bungalow on March 16 to spend a week with her grandchildren, who were to graduate soon. Little did she know then, that six months later, she would be ringing in her 87th birthday in the same house. “Corona ne sabko karun kar diya hai (Coronavirus has made everyone despondent),” the songstress observes in her melodious voice. She has every reason to blame the rogue virus that has kept her away from celebrating her special day with her family. “We have a family get-together on everyone’s birthdays but this time no one can travel so we have to make do with phone calls. I called Lata didi in the morning to seek her blessings and she told me she was posting a picture of us on the social media,” relays Asha ji, recalling that in her childhood, birthdays were a simple affair. “Mother would dress me in new clothes, make me sit on a stool, and do an aarti before feeding me something sweet made at home.”

It’s her milestone birthdays —50th, 60th, and 75th that Asha ji remembers the most. “The 60th was a surprise party. After a day of media interactions, I was exhausted when my brother Nandu and sister Varsha started arguing about where we should head for dinner. I was exasperated and told them to decide quickly. They settled on Khyber. On reaching the restaurant, they led me up the stairs to a dark room. Suddenly, the lights went on and my family and musician friends screamed ‘Happy Birthday.’ Didi gifted me a shawl,” she shares, adding that after her 75th birthday, she said ‘no’ to lavish celebrations.

But to ensure that her lockdown birthday is a memorable one, her grandchildren went out of the way to source her favourite goodies. “Since the past few days, Zanai had been asking me what kind of food I like and which cake is my favourite. A day before my birthday, she had Japanese dishes—it’s the only cuisine I like apart from Indian—and a fresh fruit cream cake carted here all the way from Mumbai, along with a huge bouquet of flowers. It amazes me what this girl can do!” she gushes.

Her voice filled with pride, the two times National Award winning singer continues, “She is a good singer and dancer and looks pretty too; I don’t know what she wants to do. But then, I didn’t know that I’d become a singer either; so I’m sure Zanai will figure it out on her own too.”

For now, the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee is busy with her talent hunt, Asha Ki Asha, for which she received over 3000 entries. “It’s incredible how much talent there is in this country. After the lockdown is over, I want to do something for all the really talented ones, not just the winner,” she shares.

In the last few months, the singer has also spent considerable time in the kitchen devising recipes for her restaurant. “Everyone makes biryanis, but I grind my own spices. I’m going to introduce fish, prawn, chicken and vegetarian biryani in the menu soon. Also, I’ve made a few dishes from the recipes collected over the years, like the one from a vendor in Haridwar and plan to serve them too,” she signs off.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 9, 2020)

The legendary singer, Asha Bhosle, turned 87 years young yesterday. In a candid chat with us from her Lonavala bungalow, she talks about why she doesn’t like big celebrations, her only wish, comparisons with elder sister Lata Mangeshkar and much more. Excerpts…

A lot of people have mixed feelings about their birthdays. Do you like celebrating yours?
Having lots of people come over, elaborate lunches… I don’t like that anymore. Just some close relatives and family is fine. Saying ‘Happy Birthday’ to little children is fun, they have a life ahead of them. I have lived mine. Step by step, I am on my way up. Aata ‘Happy Birthday’ kasla? (Laughs!). My granddaughter Zanai warned me not to enter the kitchen on my birthday. She ordered two cakes and Japanese food all the way from Mumbai to Lonavala. She arranged everything.

If you were to be granted a wish on your birthday, what would that be?
I want all my fans to pray for me so that I never lose my voice till I am alive. My voice is the reason for my being, I will live as long as it lives. My late daughter Varsha Bhosle used to tell me about Hindustani classical singer Gangubai Hangal, who sang till she was over 90 years old and passed away while she was singing. Varsha told me, ‘If you continue your riyaaz, you, too, can do it.’ I will never forget her words and I will continue my riyaaz till I am alive.

You performed live for hours at Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai in February this year. For someone in their 80s, that is no mean feat. What keeps you going?
Well, I don’t consider myself as smart or learned, but if I decide to do something, I will do it. I never fear failure or wonder if I can do something. I am extremely positive. There are days when I don’t feel well, but the moment I step onto the stage, all of that is forgotten. I have entered my 88th year, but I genuinely think I am just 40!

Lata didi or Asha tai, who is your favourite singer? This question never ceases to exist despite the fact that you both are among the finest artistes in the world. What do you make of this comparison?
Gulzar ji once wrote, ‘Two people landed on the moon in 1969 for the first time. The one who stepped on the moon first (Neil Armstrong) became famous while the other (Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin) wasn’t equally celebrated because he came second. Your sister came into this world first, so she is who she is. You came into this world after her, so you will always be compared to her.’

Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 28, 2020)

We have it in us to surpass every hurdle if we face it with a smile, believes Asha Bhosle. While everyone is talking about precautions to stay healthy during these unprecedented times, the veteran singer is also focusing on the importance of “inner peace”.

She says, “These difficult times are frustrating, so we need to enjoy the smaller joys in life. Yeh khushi aapke andar hai, bahar dhoondne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Chaahe ek niwaala kam bhi ho, chaahe kitne bhi kasht seh rahe ho, aap khush phir bhi reh sakte hain.” She believes that people need to adapt to the changing world. “Neither good nor bad times last. Even this corona will go away. We go through so many difficult phases in our lives. This time, too, we’ll emerge winners. Bas haste raho, hasaate raho, ek dusre ka saath dete raho,” she adds.

Bhosle, 86, plans to talk about the significance of contentment and her journey via her new channel on a video-sharing platform. “My granddaughter, Zanai, has been telling me to start my own channel, but I didn’t have the time,” she says, adding, “I’ve been singing since the age of 10 and have many stories to share. About collaborating with [Mohammed] Rafi saab, Kishore Kumar, Pancham (R D Burman), singing duets with didi (singer Lata Mangeshkar), kya kya karte thhe hum...”

Quarantining in Lonavala (Maharashtra) with son Anand and his wife Anuja, and grandchildren Zanai and Ranjai, she shares, “My son takes care of our restaurants abroad, while my daughter-in-law manages the business here. My grandchildren study abroad. We rarely meet each other properly, but now we are getting to know each other better.”

On the work front, she plans to team up with new artistes for upcoming tracks. But the new projects will begin once she and her family go back to Mumbai in the next few days.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 2, 2020)

Rishi Kapoor’s demise has left legendary singer Asha Bhosle devastated. While most people are fans of her singing, the late actor was a big fan of her culinary skills, too. She recounts, “I knew him since his childhood. Raj Kapoor sahab aur Krishna bhabhi (Rishi Kapoor’s parents) ki wajah se hamara poore khandaan ke saath sambandh tha. Rishi had also worked a lot with R D Burman. They would have these musical sessions at night, and I would cook for them. He loved my cooking, especially shami kebabs, kadhai gosht and kaali daal. He wasn’t married back then, and he would often ask me whether he should get married. Main kehti thi, kar lijiye.”

Speaking about the late actor’s respect and love for her, Asha Bhosle says, “Iss film line ka koi bhi artiste kabhi jawaab nahi deta hai, par yeh ek aisa artiste tha ki maine phone kiya, aur ye agar utha nahi paaya, toh wapas phone karta tha aur poochta tha, ‘Ashi, kya baat hai? Kab khaane par bula rahi ho?’”

Besides being fond of him on a personal level, she also had a lot of admiration for Rishi Kapoor — the actor. She shares, “Industry mein bahut bade artistes hain, lekin Rishi jaisa koi artiste nahin hai. He could dance well, was a great romantic hero and played tragic parts very well, too.” She further adds, “I broke down when I heard the news of his death. Mujhe aisa laga ki mere teen bachche hain, unme chautha bachcha ye tha jo chala gaya. I haven’t spoken to any of his family members yet, as I don’t feel that it would be right to call them at this time. Par unko pata hain ki mera pyaar bahut tha uss par.”

Talking about her last meeting with the late actor, Asha says, “I met him around a month-and-a-half ago, and he asked me, ‘Kab khane par bula rahi ho?’” The singer’s biggest regret is that before heading to the US for his cancer treatment, Kapoor had expressed that he wanted to eat food cooked by her, unfortunately, that didn’t happen. “I don’t think I will ever be able to cook his favourite dishes. Usko jo pasand tha, main banaungi bhi nahin aur khaungi bhi nahin,” she signs off. 

Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; December 20, 2019)

It was just another hot Mumbai afternoon as we made our way up to the first floor of R D Burman’s house to meet Asha Bhosle for an interview. But, something changed as soon as we entered the house and found her practicing with a big bunch of musicians for a concert where she paid tribute to S D Burman, Salil Choudhary, Hemant Kumar and R D Burman. Witnessing the singer in her home ground, no holds barred, is what made the afternoon special. It was magical to see her talking about the taal, asking them to give a different note, discussing the nuances of sur and once in a while reprimanding someone with a smile, ‘Tumhi visarle ka?’ Later, with a cup of hot chai in her hand, the 86-year-old soprano diva, sat down for a candid chat with Bombay Times, where she shared anecdotes from a career spanning seven decades, and spoke about her legendary didi (Lata Mangeshkar), who has just returned home after being hospitalised for pneumonia. Excerpts...

‘I STARED AT DIDI IN AWE WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM THE HOSPITAL'
Thoughts of her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar is clearly uppermost on the singer’s mind. She gets emotional while talking about her didi being hospitalised for nearly a month. “Kal didi ghar aayi after being hospitalised for pneumonia,” she says, adding, “She was looking beautiful and has lost weight, too. So, I told her, ‘Heroine aa gayi humari.’ She smiled in response and I stared at her in awe, and all her songs came to my mind, one after the other, in quick succession.” The admiration in her voice is hard to miss when she talks of her elder sister, “At 90, she is a legend no one can ever forget, but even in the earlier days, it was not easy to sing with Lata didi. When you were standing with her, you had to be 99 per cent there, if not 100. Didi ke saath gaane mein darr lagta tha. With her, it was about being ready mentally, dhaadas zaroori thi, and himmat jutake hum gaatein the unke saath.”

‘SOMETIMES KISHORE DA WOULD BE A CHALLENGE’
The singer believes that her relationship with her sister is based on respect and purity. And if there was anyone else from her contemporaries who kept her on her feet while singing, it was Kishore Kumar. “I’d never feel scared to sing with anyone except didi and sometimes, Kishore da. I knew that he would do something different or something new in the song and iska mujhe jawab dena hai. Kishore and I’d often have this, ‘Tu apna taan bol, main dekhta hoon tu kya karti hain’. That is how we’d sing. These were some amazing relationships. Pyaar-vyaar ke jhanjhat ke rishte toot jatein hain, but paak rishta end tak rehta hai. Inn logon ke saath mera bahut hi paak rishta tha,” she says, adding, “When I listen to any Kishore da song, his image comes up right in front of me. I still remember how he’d laugh and make everyone else laugh. Unka hasana bahut hee mashhoor tha.” She’s also known for her memorable duets with Mohammed Rafi, whose versatility and repertoire as a singer was well-known. Talking about him, Asha says, “Rafi sahab se kabhi bhi daar nahi lagta tha, because unhe jo sikhaya jaata tha, he’d sing just that. But yes, I’d get intimidated by compositions of some music directors like Jaidev and Madan Mohan sometimes. Kuch tedhe cheez laatein the gaane mein, which would scare me. Salil da (Chowdhury) was a lot into English opera. He had great knowledge of western music, so his songs were completely different. Har sur jump karta tha unke gaano mein. In fact, every music director had their own mood, style and idiosyncrasies that we had to adapt to. It was tough, but we’d concentrate in making them great."

‘I LOVED HEMANT DADA SINCE I WAS A KID’
She considers singer-musician Hemant Kumar her all-time favourite. “Hemant dada mere bahut hi priye singer the,” she states. “No one else has a voice like him even now. When I was a child, we used to stay at Nana Chowk. I had not begun singing for films then, but every evening I’d listen to Hemant dada’s songs on the radio. There were other singers like Jagmohan Sursagar and Pankaj Mullick, but I’d wait for his songs. I still remember one of his songs that I loved then — ‘Aanchal Se Kyun Baandh Liya Mujh Pardesi Ka Pyaar, Jaane Wale Se Rukne Ki Asha Hai Bekaar’. I was in love with his voice. He was also tall that I had to to crane my neck to look at him when I first saw him. Woh bade aadmi the in every sense and also, a great human being. We began working together later and became friends.”

‘PANCHAM EXCELLED IN EVERYTHING’
If there is anyone that she calls her ‘guru’, it is her late husband, music director R D Burman. “Pancham (RD’s nickname) was my guru. I learnt so much from him. Mujhse kya kya gawaaya, kya kya sikhaya hai,” she smiles while recalling some songs in disbelief. Calling him a versatile composer, she adds, “Just like a sundae with 10 different ice creams, that’s how Pancham was. He excelled in everything, including western, folk and so many other genres. S D Burman (musician and RD’s father) would always tell me, ‘Asha, tu zara Pancham ko bol ki woh folk na bhulein’. And Pancham would tell me, ‘Mere Baba ko bolo ki thoda western milayein (laughs!)’. Toh aisi jodi thi unki... Sometimes I’d worry when I had to sing for Pancham as he would give me some tough compositions, but then it would be so much fun, too.”

‘CAN’T NEW MUSIC DIRECTORS COMPOSE THEIR OWN SONGS?’
While the singer recalls some of her experiences with delight, she is clearly not amused with the trend of remixing old songs. “Can’t new music directors compose their own songs? They take old songs and bigaad bigaad ke unka remix banate hain,” says the singer, adding, “I would have appreciated if they do a remix well, but they don’t. Songs like Chura Liya, Hungama Ho Gaya, Yeh Mera Dil are tough. Whoever created these tracks were intelligent and talented people — unke paas gala tha, dimaag tha. And these days, inn logon ke paas dimaag bhi nahi hai, gala bhi nahi hai. Kya kar rahein hain they don’t know.” She doesn’t like the tod-mod that happens with classic songs. Not mincing words, she says, “Fools go in places where even Gods hesitate to tread. When singing a Lata Mangeshkar song, a Kishore or Rafi song, unhe sochke kadam rakhna chahiye. I don’t like the todmod that happens in remix. It’s like ‘kahin ki eenth, kahin ka roda, Bhanumati ne kunba joda’. In earlier days, bahut mehnat hoti thee, bahut riyaz hota tha. Now, the world has become fast, no one has the patience or dheer for anything.”

Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 22, 2018)

Asha Bhosle needs no introduction. With a career spanning over 75 years, the legendary singer can still pose tough competition to the current generation of singers, with her inimitable exuberance on stage and zeal for singing. However, she doesn’t seem too impressed with the present music scenario...

Without mincing words, she voices her opinion on the way songs are being recorded in Bollywood these days. She says, “Back in the day, we used to put our heart and soul into the process. We would record in the presence of several musicians in the studio and ensure that the song finishes in one-go. We were that passionate about singing. Many of my songs have been recorded in one take. Today, a singer can sing a few lines and take a tea break. Now, everything is dependent on the machines; it’s like we artistes have become machines. Plus, people nowadays don’t listen to songs, they watch them. Audiences have changed and so has music.”

Everyone’s favourite Asha tai has not limited herself to any particular genre or language. Ask her if she sees a spark in any of the current singers and she says, “Honestly, I barely get an opportunity to listen to the latest music. I want to sincerely apologise for that. Firstly, I don’t have the time because I’m constantly working, and secondly, I have no radio at home. Even in the car, I mostly listen to old melodies.” She adds, “I like Shreya Ghoshal; she sang exceptionally well in Bajirao Mastani. Among the recent lot, no singer has impressed me or compelled me to sit back and take notice, yet. However, I like the way reality show contestants try out different styles of singing. It is heartening to see children singing didi’s (Lata Mangeshkar) songs. Also, whenever I hear a good song, I do ask around for singer’s name. But I believe good voice quality is a God’s gift and our family is truly blessed. Luck is another factor that plays a vital role. There may be brilliant singers out there, probably better than us, but they are struggling to get noticed.”

Biopics are the flavour of the season and the legendary singer reveals who she thinks would be the perfect fit to play her character in a film. She says, “I think Priyanka (Chopra Jonas) would be perfect to play me onscreen. Kangana Ranaut is also a very good actor. I feel she can be a great choice, too. Having said this, I don’t think a film based on my life will ever be made (laughs!).” 

Sandra Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; June 9, 2018)

She has sung some of the most popular songs in the Hindi film industry in her career spanning nearly six decades, yet, when you talk to Asha Bhosle, there is a simplicity and an air of humility that you feel. In a candid chat, the legendary songstress talks about how music directors today sound confused, performing on stage and more...

What are your thoughts on the kind of music and songs that the Hindi film industry is churning out today?
The music today is all about what the film demands. In fact, a lot of the time, it depends on the hero of the film. The hero dances, chooses his songs and even sings wonderfully most of the time, that’s how music is made these days.

What sort of changes have you seen in the music industry over the past few years?
I’ve seen so many changes. To start with, the lyrics of the songs are not good. Films these days demand dhamaka in their songs, halla hona chahiye. So, the lyrics are written according to the demand and the music is produced in a similar fashion. I feel that music directors these days are confused about what they should give their audiences. I miss the songs from the earlier years and miss the music directors from that era. They were knowledgeable about music and were extremely good and confident at their job.

Singers today know how to sing, dance and have great stage presence too. Your thoughts…
Yes, they perform on stage, they dance and sing as well, but I don’t understand that. While singing you can dance a little, but you can’t jump around on the stage and sing at the same time. Then you have to play the song and lip-sync to it. A lot of people do it. No matter how well they sing and perform, a singer shouldn’t cheat the audience, because people come to watch you sing. People will come to watch me on stage, how I look and sing when I perform.

One actress you enjoyed lending your voice to?
I loved singing all my songs. People gave me good songs to sing and I enjoyed them all (laughs). I enjoyed singing for Umrao Jaan.

You’ve sung all kinds of songs — right from romantic, dance and peppy numbers. If you had to choose one song from today, which one would that be?
I don’t know. I’m not aware of any recent songs.

You are well known for your cooking skills. What do you enjoy cooking the most?
I love to cook. Raj Kapoor’s family is very fond of food. They used to tell me, ‘Aap khana itna accha banate ho, aap gaana chod do’. I make maa ki dal and different varieties of biryanis. I feel happy when people enjoy my food. Many of them are no more, like Rajesh Khanna and some members of the Kapoor family. Dev (Anand) saab never ate much, but he enjoyed the food I cooked. Many directors used to enjoy the food, maine har ek ke begum se jaakar khana banana seekha hai.

You are on social media. What prompted you to take the plunge?
There is one person behind every artiste. My son, Anand Bhosle, is that person for me. He told me that I should write a cook book but I refused, as I thought that no one reads a cook book. Then we opened several restaurants in my name in the Middle East and London. He was the one who suggested that I get on Twitter. So, he handles everything and I sing.

What message would you like to give your fans?
Fans are fans, without them we are nothing. No artiste is complete without his/her fans. They have shown me so much love, I want to meet them and interact with them.

DNA (November 9, 2017)

Songstress Asha Bhosle who was in Dubai recently for the Leadership Lecture Series shared her personal experiences and her dedication towards singing.

When asked about how important music is to her she said, “Music was always important to me but in 1947, when I started singing for Hindi movies was when I realised that this is my work, this is my life. Earlier before marriage, I used to think, I won’t sing, I will eat ice-cream, but it was God’s wish, that he gave me singing as a gift and till now I am singing. I used to think at times, that after singing, I will have lots of ice cream, imli or pani puri, but till date, I haven’t eaten either. They are bad for my throat, so after I left them at the age of 13, I haven’t had them.”