Lata Mangeshkar sends a gift to Hema Malini’s granddaughter

Hema Malini’s daughter Esha Deol Takhtani received a special gift and blessings for her newborn girl, from the nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar. The singer shares a close relation with Hema, who says, “It is very rare to come across someone so distinguished and yet so warm and gracious in an industry where relationships are made and broken every Friday. I’m lucky to have many permanent relationships here.” 

Hema and Lata both go back a long way and have continued to share a close bond. Says Hema, “Lataji sang for me in my first film, Sapnon Ka Saudagar, in 1969. Since then, she has been my voice in films. Her singing has enhanced my screen presence and performances.” So strong is the bond between the two that Hema would insist on Lata’s voice for her films, and almost walked out of Gulzar’s Meera because the singer refused to sing for the film as she had recorded Meera bhajans for her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar.

Hema says, “Yes, Lataji and I are in each others’ thoughts constantly.” Lata, in turn, maintains, “There is something distinctly royal and graceful about Hemaji. In fact, I feel she would’ve been the perfect Rani Padmavati for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film 20 years ago.”