June 3rd., 2010

Hi Friends, Sorry for taking a rather long break. It’s actually not my fault. The blooming flowers, the fragrant breeze, the clear skies (most of the time), the glowing sunlight and above all the swing in our hearts that this wonderful May/June weather brings is the culprit. It distracts me to stop and smell the roses, to go for long walks, to chat with friends over  steaming hot cup o’ tea in the long lazy afternoons and simply appreciate being alive to enjoy everything around me.

It reminds me of an old song from one of V. SHANTARAM’s film Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti. It goes like this ---Yeh kaun chitrakaar hai.

Anyway today I shall talk about my experience with my favorite singer ASHA BHONSLE. Aap Ka Manoranjan had hosted her concerts twice and each time it was an absolute pleasure to meet her. There are so many cherished memories that I will have to write them in 2 parts.

The first concert was hosted in April 1999. I usually visit Mumbai in January and that year was no different. Since we had already signed for the upcoming concert, I was very keen to interview her so that on my return to Boston, I would televise it on my T.V. show and effectively promote the concert. I called her son Anand Bhonsle; who is her business manager for an appointment. It was not easy; half the time nobody picked up the phone, and if someone did, either Anand was not there or he was sleeping.

      After almost 10 days of playing hide and seek; ultimately a time was given; 4pm for me to visit their spacious Peddar Rd. apartment with my crew and conduct the interview.

As most Mumbaikars must be familiar with the Mumbai traffic, they can understand as to why I got late by more than half an hour.

A maid opened the door and led me to Asha ji’s bedroom. Let me confess that as I entered her bedroom, my heart was beating fast, I was not just on my job as a TV anchor, but I was a HUGE FAN of this lovely lady (The other celebrity of whom again I am a huge fan is MADHURI DIXIT)

ASHAJI was visibly upset at my being late as she was in full makeup and wearing a lovely sari to look her best for the camera. As I earnestly apologized to her, her face softened, revealing her adorable dimples. My crew was waiting in her front room. But now we realized a problem with our taping, due to some construction going on in the house, there was too much background noise. Immediately we shifted the venue of our shooting to a close by building DEV-ASHISH, in which my very good friend VINOD and SANGEETA AGARWAL lived. Incidentally several years ago I had interviewed KALYANJI and ANANDJI, who live in the very same building.

Well, the lights were put up, the microphones were pinned on ASHAJI and me, and soon it was Lights – Camera - Action.

Ashaji gave a truly amazing and candid interview. She always speaks from the heart.

She later told me that before I had entered her bedroom, she had planned to refuse the interview but seeing my soft face and sincere eyes she liked me and hence changed her mind. Like most of the females, I still treasure that complement.

My friend Sangita’s maid brought in sumptuous snacks and mithai along with steaming tea. After the little break, we decided to do another interview so that we can broadcast   the 2 interviews in 2 consecutive weeks. In showbiz, we often have to cheat like this. Ashaji and I changed our costumes and then began yet another chat in front of the camera.

Now it was time for me to escort Ashaji back to her apartment. Both Sangita and I went with her and once in her hall, she insisted that we spend some time with her. She even spoke about her firm belief in Vastu Shastra and her fondness for jewelry. She showed us her Beautiful collection of jewelry including her lovely  Diamond Kangans. She told us about a very emotional experience in her life. One night her first husband Mr.Bhonsle threw her our of the house. She had 2 children and was expecting her 3^rd( Anand).

She approached Mr. Shantaram ( He was her uncle) to help her with a career in playback singing. While he did promise to help her as much as he can, he suggested her to abort her baby as showbiz is not really reliable and success was not guaranteed. But Ashaji refused, saying that if she can’t make her mark as a singer she will use her hands to work as a domestic help to feed her children. Indeed, she is a woman of steel when it comes to her work, her profession, and at the same time soft like a flower when it comes to her family and loved ones.

In April, she and NANDU ( ANAND’S pet name) came 2 days earlier than the concert. We got to spend some real quality time together, having dinners at different restaurants (Nandu loved to eat then), and shopping at Salem mall where she bought something for all her siblings and her bahu but nothing for herself. She spoke in details about her children 2 boys and one girl. She requested me to pray for Nandu and his wife to have children soon, as after several years of marriage they were not blessed on that front (They now have twins, a boy and a girl).

Then came the D-day - the concert. The show was sold out a week before, in fact even Anil and I had to give away our seats, such was the demand. Anand had left earlier for the auditorium with Anil, and Ashaji and I were supposed to join later. Just before leaving, she realized that Anand had the keys to the safe deposit in the hotel and she HAD to wear her BIG diamond bracelet for the show. We just could not get Anand on the phone and ASHAJI didn’t want to leave without her jewelry. After waiting for a while, Anand phoned, and asked us to proceed to the Aud. and he would bring the bracelet.  As I drove her to the Lowell Auditorium, we got stuck in the traffic, and seeing my nervousness she taught me 2 Shlokas’ to recite whenever in trouble which I do almost everyday ( Not that I am always in trouble!)

The Shlokas’ did help. We reached in time and exactly at 8pm (the stipulated show time!) Ashaji came on the stage. Whenever she performs, there is no M.C. Ashaji is all in one, she is the MC, the comedienne and of course the ultimate performer. She even danced with BABUL SUPRIYO as she sang with him some of her famous duets.

I must add that despite the show being sold out, at 8pm the auditorium was barely half full. When the audience began to trickle in between 8.45 to 9pm, ASHAJI, made a comments “Hum Hindustani America pahunch gaye, England pahunch gaye, yahan tak ki chaand tak pahunch gaye…. par late aana nahi choda.”

She spoke about her struggles in the early stages of her career and many other anecdotes; .  the one I find so cute is that Geeta Dutt was a very successful and a very beautiful singer and Ashaji used to admire her a lot. But one day Geetaji told her (“aapke dimples mujhe de do”) Ashaji promptly replied “Ek hi to cheez hai mere paas; woh kaise de doon?”

She had the audience eating out of palm of her hand. The Auditorium General Manager later told me that he has never seen a 60 year old lady (she announced her age on the stage!) ever kept the crowd mesmerized for so long int he hsitory of Lowell Auditorium. He compared the spell bound audience of this  shows to Bill Crosby Show in which he sits on an ordinary chair on the stage and talks to the sold out audience  for just one hour. Ashaji's show was over 3 hours long!
 All in all I will conclude with this sher which I had narrated on the stage before her coming.

“Jahan mein phool  hai  bahut, par har koi Gulab nahin, Jag mein hai singers saikado, par Ashaji ka jawab nahin”.

Have a great week. Enjoy the lovely film RAJNEETI in Fresh pond theatre in Cambridge. For show times, visit our website www. AapKaManoranjan.com

Enjoy the summer Stay Healthy.