Asha Bhosle: No emotion in today's films
Music and film enthusiasts have loved Asha Bhosle from behind the camera, lending her voice to Bollywood's leading ladies.
Now, the audience will get to see the veteran playback singer in front of the camera, working her magic in a different way.
Asha Bhosle will make her acting debut in a film called "Maayee". She will play mother of the role donned by Padmini Kolhapure. The film will be directed by newcomer Mahesh Godiyal.
Asha was in a dilemma whether she had taken the right decision of making her acting debut. "I spoke to didi (Lata Mangeshkar), who gave me confidence that I would do a good job. She said acting runs in our blood, as our father -- late Dinanath Mangeshkar -- was a drama artiste," Asha said.
As a child artiste, Asha had acted in "Badi Maa" (1945). "I did not remember the song that didi had sung for me in 'Badi Maa'," she continued. "I was a child artiste in the movie. Noorjehan was the leading lady."
Even though she is not scared of being in front of the camera, Asha said that playing a title role in a film was a big risk, and an experiment.
"I took up the film at the insistence of my son Anand after producer Nitin Shankar narrated the story," Asha said.
"After I gave my approval, I continued to worry about remembering dialogues despite having performed in front of big audiences. Acting on the big screen is completely different from what I have done before. Songs are easy to remember because they have rhythm and music," she said.
Ironically, Asha claims that she does not like to watch movies these days. "There are no emotions in today's films," she said. "Everything is computerised, including the fight scenes. It is better to watch cartoon. But I liked the film 'Munnabhai MBBS'."
Had she been offered acting roles earlier? "Yes. I was approached for acting roles when I was young," Asha said. "I had said that I look into the mirror everyday and don't think my face suits the big screen. So I will not do films."
Ask her about her role in "Maaee", and she refuses to divulge any detail. "It is a story with a twist and a message. My emotions are attached to the film," she said.
Is she open to more films? "Singing is my first love. Acting is not my forte. 'Maaee' will be my first and last movie as an actor," she said.
The singer believes remixed songs can never change the popularity and the timelessness of the original classics. "No matter how many films are remade and songs are remixed, the original is the best and is always remembered. My songs like 'Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana' and 'Dum Maro Dum' have been remixed but audiences will always remember the original," she said.
But Asha claims she has not heard the remixed version of "Dum Maro Dum", and has "no intention of doing so."
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