Mumbai, April 13 (NationPress) Renowned Bollywood singer Kunal Ganjawalla fondly recalled his experiences with the iconic Asha Bhosle, highlighting her disappointment when he decided to stop consuming non-vegetarian food.

In a conversation with IANS, Kunal expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside Asha Bhosle.

“Collaborating with Asha ji was a remarkable experience. We embarked on a two-and-a-half-month tour across North America, Canada, South America, and the West Indies. I was part of her band, performing alongside other talented artists like Sonu and Kailash. I typically opened the shows, and we sometimes concluded the performances together with Asha ji or Sonu,” he shared.

He emphasized the bond they developed through their shared love for music and food.

“Throughout those months, we learned a great deal. My wife and I frequently visited her suite after shows for dinners alongside Nandu ji. We reminisced about legends such as Rafi saab, Kishore da, Pancham da, Mukesh ji, and Lata ji. She imparted innumerable valuable insights into singing. Those moments are etched in my memory,” he reflected.

He reminisced, “At that time, I was still eating non-vegetarian meals, and she thoroughly enjoyed cooking for me—fish, prawns, chicken, and mutton. However, when I met her at the airport in 2012 and mentioned that I had given up non-veg, she expressed her disappointment with a playful remark, ‘What will I feed you now? A lion doesn’t eat grass!’”

Reflecting on Asha Bhosle's recent passing, Kunal shared with IANS that he received the heartbreaking news in the early hours.

“When the news arrived around 3 AM, my heart felt incredibly restless. I had been praying to God the previous day… Despite her age, she maintained a youthful spirit,” he noted.

He continued, “The entire world learned about Asha ji's hospitalization following a heart attack. I had even posted a prayer, saying, ‘Ma, please come back home soon.’”

“She was genuinely a treasure of our nation. In a world of nearly eight billion people, the phrase ‘one in a billion’ doesn’t do justice to Asha ji. She transcended that notion. Her vast repertoire of songs is unmatched, and I doubt there has ever been a more versatile singer in our country,” he added.

Praising Asha Bhosle for her electrifying performance at the age of 90, Kunal remarked, “That is truly remarkable. Most individuals of that age either retreat from life or take to their beds. Yet, her zest for life and mental resilience were unparalleled; for her, singing and life were inseparable. She excelled in every genre—classical, folk, natya sangeet, ghazals, cabaret, Western... she mastered it all!”

He also shared some cherished memories from their collaborative efforts.

“I recall performing with her and Didi during a tour of 19 shows. At times, she would take my hand and walk onto the stage; that concept was entirely her creation.”

“We even performed in cowboy states like Texas, where I would don a cowboy hat. She would often take my hat and wear it herself! Unfortunately, this was around 2007, before mobile phones captured every moment, otherwise, we would have many more memories documented,” he expressed.

He expressed, “It is profoundly painful… but we will honor her life with joy, as she always lived with happiness.”

Kunal also reminisced about another special memory with the legendary singer.

“I vividly remember a historic photograph taken at Sonu Nigam’s home, featuring Lata ji, Asha ji, Alka ji, Kavita ji, Sunidhi, Shreya, and all of us together. After that gathering, she asked me in Marathi, ‘Drop me home.’ I lived in South Bombay, so I drove her to her residence in Parel after a delightful conversation lasting almost an hour and a half,” he recalled.

Kunal concluded by singing a few lines from one of Asha Bhosle’s timeless songs.

“The song that resonates with me today is, ‘Aage bhi jaane na tu, Peechhe bhi jaane na tu, Jo bhi hai… bas yahi ek pal hai…’

For those unaware, Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12 due to multi-organ failure.