Asha Bhosle's Sister Lata Mangeshkar Had Cut All Ties After Her First Marriage Against Family's Wish

India has forever lost the Mangeshkar legacy with the passing of Asha Bhosle, just four years after the death of her legendary elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar. Both died on a Sunday, leaving for the heavenly abode at the age of 92. As the nation mourns the loss of two of its most iconic voices, many are revisiting the deeply personal chapters of Asha Bhosle's life, one that was riddled with perhaps more lows than highs. 

Amid it all, a particularly painful and life-altering moment was when she fell in love with her first husband, Ganpatrao Bhosle. When she decided to elope and marry early, little did young Asha know that it would lead to a deep estrangement from her family, including a long-standing rift with Lata Mangeshkar.

How Asha Bhosle's teenage decision broke the Mangeshkar family apart

In 1949, a 16-year-old Asha made a bold and life-altering decision. She eloped with Lata's then-secretary, Ganpatrao Bhosle, 31. Despite their glaring age gap, their closeness grew deeper and turned into a secret relationship that soon led to marriage.

However, the union did not sit well with the Mangeshkar family. Her parents and siblings strongly disapproved of the union, and it was her elder sister, Lata, who particularly opposed the marriage, and severed all ties. With the doors closing behind her, Asha was forced to leave her family and begin a new life away from them. The rift between the iconic Asha-Lata duo began here.

The infamous rift between the two Mangeshkar sisters

The fallout from Asha's marriage led to a prolonged period of silence in the family, especially between the sisters. While it has often been perceived as professional rivalry was, in reality, rooted in personal differences and emotional conflict that followed Asha's first marriage. For years, Asha and Lata remained distant, their relationship strained by the circumstances surrounding the marriage. The fallout from Asha’s marriage led to a prolonged period of silence between the sisters.

When Asha left the house to start a new married life with Ganpatrao Bhosle, it broke something that may never have completely healed. The distance that she and Lata formed at that time, created not only physical but emotional separation. In an old interview with Kavita Chhibber, she spoke about her strained relationship with her family, saying:

“I did get married at a very young age to a man who was 20 years older than I was. It was a love marriage and Lata didi did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the alliance. The family was very conservative, and they could not handle a singing star for a daughter-in-law.”

Over the years, this rift became one of the most talked about controversies in the history of Indian music. In later interviews, however, both singing legends repeatedly downplayed the differences, with Asha one mentioning "blood is thicker than water."

Asha Bhosle's first marriage ended in pain

While Asha risked it all to be with her first love, the pink facade would eventually fade, and things would turn dark. She and Ganpatrao welcomed three children, Hemant, Varsha, and Anand Bhosle, but that couldn't save the marriage. The relationship deteriorated and turned abusive with time. Her in-laws, including the man who once held her hand, started treating her horribly.

In 1960, Ganpatrao asked Asha to leave the house while she was pregnant with their third child, Anand. In the same year, Asha and Ganpatrao separated, and it proved to be a turning point for Asha. She left with her other two children and returned to her family home. The Mangeshkar siblings eventually reconciled, and the family gradually rebuilt the ties that had been strained. Even after such tragedy, the singer never blamed her circumstances on anyone. Speaking about her abusive marriage, she once shared:

“There was abuse and ill-treatment, and I finally was asked to leave when I was expecting my youngest son Anand, and I did go back to my mother, sisters, and brother. I do not blame anyone and have no ill will. I feel if I had not met Mr Bhosle, I would not have had these three amazing children and life turned out okay."

Meeting R. D. Burman and finding love again

Following her separation, Asha Bhosle rebuilt her life with remarkable resilience, and eventually found a second chance at love when she met legendary music composer R. D. Burman. In an interview with Quint, Asha revealed that it was Burman who pursued her and was impressed with her voice. The pair tied the knot in 1980 and recorded numerous timeless songs for films like Ijaazat, Saagar, and more, and worked together on popular Bengali songs. However, in the late 1980s, they began to live separately due to R.D. Burman's lifestyle, yet they had a loving relationship and immense respect for each other.

As the world says goodbye to Asha Bhosle, we remember a woman who turned her pain into strength and left behind a legacy that will last for generations.

Read Next: When Asha Bhosle Saw Her Sister, Lata Mangeshkar As Competitor, 'Didi Ke Wajah Se Kaam Nai Milega..'

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