When I hear Asha Bhosle, I see Sangeet ki Maharani in my mind. I remember when I was a six year old, in my village, only two-three people had transistor radios. So, I would listen to music from a distance. Her voice had so much power that it used to pull me towards it. It remains etched in my heart and mind. At the age of 22, I came to Mumbai. I can still recall my first recording with her. It was Chawl Mein Maal Leke Aaya Hai from Gehra Zakhm (1981). The song had Ashaji, Mohammad Rafi, Anand Kumar C, and me. RD Burman had composed the music.

Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh in a still from ‘Lagaan’. Pic/Youtube