Asha Bhosle: I Have Always Been A Rebel

As the legendary singer Asha Bhosle gets ready for her final concert in London in September, here’s a heartwarming and emotionally charged conversation with the diva herself

- Suchitra Iyer

How does one even begin to decipher theaura of someone like Asha Bhosle? The Indian film industry is inundated with talent, but to sustain the top slot in the cut throat world of films for a staggering seven decades requires a certain mettle and incredible gumption. If she has stood the test of time, it is thanks to her talent, which is a given, but combined with her propensity to stand up to challenges and take the untrodden path. Even at 82, the songstress with the magical voice is brimming with a joie de vivre and a childlike enthusiasm that only a few are capable of. Her life has seen several ups and downs, but there is no hint of bitterness in her voice and her spirit to live life to the hilt is unstoppable and rather infectious.

When I meet her at her spacious and elegant apartment in central Mumbai where she moved in from the iconic Pedder residence of the Mangeshkars, I can sense a warmth that one rarely associates with the sprawling abodes of celebrities. It is devoid of the fanfare that can make you nervous about occupying the same space as the resident. She lives with her son Anand, his wife Anuja and their twins. And, they are hospitable to a fault.

As I wait sipping hot tea, Asha walks in, as charming as ever, draped in an elegant white chiffon sari with baby pink flowers on it. She greets me with a smile that makes her eyes crinkle, highlighting her trademark high cheek bones, also revealing her audacious dimples.