Asha Bhosle Opens Up About Her 'Rivalry' With Didi Lata Mangeshkar

She may have left the building. Asha Bhosle, who no longer resides in Prabhu Kunj on Peddar Road, however, has not parted with the apartment where she spent decades of her life with her family.

"My home is spic and span," the 81-year-old singer told SpotboyE.com. "It is properly maintained and I visit it regularly."

Besides, didi (Lata Mangeshkar) continues to reside in an adjoining apartment on the same floor of Prabhu Kunj. "I go over to see her every week if not more often," the legendary singer says. "She keeps in good humour and continues with song recordings whenever she connects with a song offered to her."

While Lataji may have reduced the number of songs and albums she assents to, sister Asha continues her tryst with music with the same gusto. She has just released a private album of Gujarati songs penned and composed by the late composer Arvind Vyas.


Pic Credit: Vatsal Shah

Although star concerts - including those by A-list Bollywood superstars - have dwindled, Bhosle is scheduled to perform at concerts through different cities of the U S shortly. The demand for nostalgia-laden Asha Bhosle hits has kept at a steady level among the second-generation NRIs in the U S.

Whenever in Mumbai, she lives in a tower complex in Lower Parel. "But I miss the traffic noise on Peddar Road. I had become so used to the beeps and horns throughout the day and night on the flyover that it's difficult to sleep to the sound of silence," she laughs.

Years ago, both Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, with several other residents of Peddar Road, had objected to the massive redevelopment of the flyover, which it was felt would add to the congestion and noise pollution.

Incidentally, Asha who is believed to have had a long-standing rivalry with badi didi, insists that such talk may have had a trace of truth but it was majorly exaggerated to pit them against one another.

According to her the Lata Mangeshkar song, Lag Jaa Gale composed by Madan Mohan for the black-and-white suspense thriller Woh Kaun Thi, remains her favourite. And yes, she will be rendering some of Lata's vintage songs in the course of the U S concert tour - a sporting gesture which is sure to get the diva a standing ovation.