Didi, you’ve now complete 80 years of singing?
It’s all God’s grace. And of course the blessings of my parents who dreamt big dreams for me. Do you know, my father was an astrologer. He predicted I’d doing something very special with my life.
And you are, going far far ahead of what your father had predicted…
Yeh sach hai maine logon ka bahot pyar paya hai (I’ve received so much love of the people). But that doesn’t mean I am complacent about my career. There is always room for more. I don’t think I’ve achieved as much as people think I have.
You started working at a very young age, when you were only 14. Did you miss out on the joys of childhood?
I never had an opportunity to do the things children do. I had no time to play with dolls. When my father passed away at a very young age,I , as the eldest member of the family had to become the breadearner .At 14 I was singing professionally. Sochne ka waqt hi nahin mila. Kab bachpan gaya . Now when I see my siblings all doing well in life,all still with me and healthy, I feel satisfied.
You sang for five generations of heroines. Who were your favourites?
It was always a joy to sing for Meena Kumari and Nargis. I knew them personally and they would sometimes attend the records of my songs sung for them. Later I enjoyed singing for Waheeda Rehman,Vyjanthimala, Sadhana and Nutan. Nutanji was a singer and she actually sang along when I ghost-voiced her.
You sang for everyone except the hero?
(Laughs) Jee haan. I sang so many songs for little boys.There was one composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal about the love for one’s mother which I really like.
O ma tu kitni achchi hai tu kitni bholi hai from the film Raja Aur Runk?
That’s right. Bahot pyara gaana ttha(it was a lovely song). In those days there was certain innocence about the world we inhabited. There was laughter and joy and pleasure in simple things. Now it’s all gone.