ASHA BHONSLE, Singer, on her sister Lata Mangeshkar.

You've achieved a lot considering how formidable a talent your sister is.

I've always given priority to my children and to my music, in that order. I never cared whether I was number 1, 2 or 3. I sang professionally, so I could educate my children. Now I sing for myself.

We remember you once complaining, "But RD didn't give me Raina beeti jaye".

I never questioned him about which songs he composed for Lata didi. He told me which were my songs and I sang them.

But didn't it pinch when RD's Raina beeti jaye or Do nainon mein aanson bhare hain went to Lataji?

No, I had gotten used to it. Madan Mohanji and Roshanji also gave me lovely and successful songs. But, there was always the issue of 'first' and 'second' — Lata ko yeh gaane denge, Asha ko yeh gaane denge.

I don't blame them because my songs became hits. When there was a trend for qawwallis, I sang those. When it was time for cabarets I did them. Waqt ke saath main dhaalti gayi. That's why I am where I am.

What do you think of your songs' re-mixes?

Watching the singers gyrate to our songs in skimpy clothes is unbearable. I just sweep my grandchildren out of the room when these songs are playing on TV. Do they even know what they're doing to impressionable minds?

Thanks N!
Tum apni baat ki dhani nikli, and put up the article before the day was out. Great work...