Not all of us are lucky enough to receive a call from our PrimeMminister on our birthday. Lata Mangeshkar who turned a year older on September 28 received a call from Modiji.
“It was very thoughtful of Narendrabhai to call me on my birthday. He could’ve just tweeted his good wishes. Wohi kafi hota. But he actually took the time off from his packed schedule to call. My day began with one brother(PM Modi) and ended with my own brother Hridayanath. He waited the whole day before coming to wish me. ‘I know how tired you must be. I wanted to give you time to rest,’ Hridayanath said.He was right. The day was exhausting but so filled with warmth and affection.”
Another surprise was sister Meena Mangeshkar who dropped in with Lataji’s favourite sweets. “Meena knows I love laddoos. She had made them herself and insisted I have them.”
Normally not a ‘sweets’ person Lataji made an exception on her birthday.
Lataji feels this Coronavirus lockdown has given us a chance to reclaim our relationships. “Every emotion was being expressed on social media. During the lockdown people began to reach out to loved ones on the phone. Friends that one had lost contact with for years were rediscovered. Iss dauraan rishte aur pakke hogaye hain(the Covid has strengthened relationships).”
The Nightingale is aware of the drugs and nepotism controversies raging across the film industry.
“This is not the entertainment industry I know. What is happening is really sad. I think this year has changed all lives equations and priorities. We’ve all begun to look at our work and relationships differently,” says Lataji
