Playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on 12 April this year and was cremated with state honours. Known for singing in Hindi and several other languages, Asha Bhosle built her legacy not just through film songs but also through pop numbers. Nearly two months after her death, her sister Usha Mangeshkar has shared an emotional anecdote about Asha, revealing that the two sisters did not speak to each other for years, and that their eventual reunion was far more than just a professional meeting.
The reunion after years of silence
According to Usha Mangeshkar, the sisters came face to face again when they had to record a film song together. That moment also marked the first time Usha saw Asha since she had left home. Asha Bhosle had eloped and married Ganpatrao Bhosle at a very young age, she was only 16 at the time, while Ganpatrao was 20 years older than her. Speaking to Filmfare, Usha Mangeshkar said that by the time she met Asha again, her sister had already become Hemant's mother.
Usha Mangeshkar said, "This was the first time I was seeing her after her marriage. She had just become Hemant's mother by then. She had left home when she was around 15-16 years old. And now, after so many years, this was the first time I was seeing her again." Usha said she simply kept staring at Asha, because the woman standing in front of her looked completely different from the sister she remembered from childhood.
Asha Bhosle was a tomboy as a child
Usha Mangeshkar further said, "Before that, I only remembered her as a little tomboy who wore pants and shirts, and a waistcoat. At just seven or eight years old, she used to ride a bicycle, roam around, and get into fights. I had always seen her that way, so I thought she would still be the same, laughing and joking, teasing everyone, and play-fighting ready to hit you."
Asha Bhosle scolded Usha Mangeshkar
But when Usha Mangeshkar's eyes fell on Asha, she just could not stop staring. Usha said, "But when I saw her, I just kept staring at her. She had a big tika on her forehead, her hair was tied up, and she was wearing a plain white saree. She had gold bangles on her hands and a watch on her wrist. And she looked at me." Usha further said that the moment they met, Asha immediately noticed her messy hair and scolded her for not pinning it up properly. Recalling that meeting, Usha Mangeshkar also said that Asha Bhosle's way of speaking had changed completely after her marriage.
