Lata Mangeshkar Reveals She Struck Asha Bhosle Over Teenage Marriage to Ganpat Bhosle
The legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar once admitted to physically hitting her younger sister Asha Bhosle upon discovering her plans to marry Ganpat Bhosle at the tender age of 14. This shocking revelation, detailed in Lata's Marathi book 'Fuley Vechita' from the late 1990s, highlights a deep family rift that persisted for years.
A Family in Turmoil Over Asha's Decision
In the 1950s, following the death of their father Deenanath, Lata had become the primary breadwinner and quasi-parent to her four younger siblings. The entire Mangeshkar family, including their mother 'Mai', was deeply upset by Asha's decision to wed Ganpat Bhosle, who was in his early 30s. "I hit her, and she got angry and walked out of the house," Lata recounted, describing the emotional fallout that led to Asha moving to Borivli and becoming estranged from her family for many years.
Awkward Encounters and Financial Struggles
During this period of estrangement, the family was surprised to learn that Asha had taken up playback singing, despite the sisters having sung a duet together in the 1943 Marathi film 'Mazha Bal'. They began encountering each other in recording studios, but Asha, under her husband's disapproval, would not speak to Lata or other family members. "She would not speak to me or to any of us (Mangeshkars) because her husband disapproved of it," Lata reminisced.
Even when they sang duets, Asha was too scared to converse with Lata because Ganpat Bhosle would be waiting outside. One day, when he was absent, Lata invited Asha for coffee and was shocked to find she had "not a single anna" in her purse, revealing her lack of financial freedom.
Harsh Realities and Family Distress
The family's distress deepened when they learned from others that Asha was being forced by her husband to sing three to four songs daily, travel extensively from Borivli to meet music directors, and then cook elaborate meals upon returning home exhausted. "Truly, he (Bhosle) tortured her a lot," Lata wrote, expressing the family's anguish.
In a particularly poignant incident, a chorus member informed Lata that Asha was recording a song just hours before giving birth to her eldest son Hemant. Despite this, the family felt powerless to intervene, as Asha's departure in anger made reconciliation awkward.
Reconciliation and Lasting Bond
Over time, the rift healed, with both sisters eventually purchasing homes next to each other at Prabhu Kunj on Pedder Road. Lata admired Asha's extraordinary endurance but noted her "fertile imagination" often led her to take small things to heart, causing mental anguish. However, Asha's temper would cool quickly, and she was always eager to help others and shower love on the household.
Their reconciliation grew so strong that Lata later advised Asha to be more selective about the music directors she worked with. Despite Asha's long associations with O P Nayyar and R D Burman, Lata believed her voice had a unique quality when collaborating with Jaidev and Khayyam.
