The late Lata Mangeshkar went by several names, but many referred to her as the Nightingale of India. This is because Mangeshkar was undoubtedly one of the greatest singers of her generation and is held in high regard by millions in India and beyond. And, because of how famous she was, it naturally led to a lot of intrigue surrounding the music icon, and there are many facts most will not have ever known about Mangeshkar.
She Nearly Died from Poisoning
It’s often the case you hear of famous people being targets of criminals, but how many do you know who have nearly died after being poisoned? Well, that’s what happened to Mangeshkar back in 1962. It’s an event that is still shrouded in mystery, but the singer’s cook became the prime suspect after immediately disappearing following Mangeshkar being rushed to the hospital in critical condition. It was touch and go for ten days before months of recovering in bed followed. She was lucky to survive.
Casinos Were Her Thing
While some people contest Mangeshkar didn’t have a love of gambling, there are a lot of reasons to believe that it was, in fact, the case. For example, she was once pictured outside of a land-based casino venue. Of course, some people prefer to keep their hobbies private, especially if it involves playing games. So, in this case, you could have suggested that she no doubt would have appreciated the huge choice of casino games online, as it would have allowed her to enjoy her gaming but away from the prying eyes of the public and the press.
Music for Movies was a Secret Passion
You could undoubtedly describe Mangeshkar as a multi-talented musician because she didn’t just stick to one style or purpose. And, like some of the top music artists around, she wanted to get involved in the movie industry in some way, shape, or form, which led to her creating music specifically for films. Interestingly, in doing so, she chose to operate under the male pseudonym of Anand Ghan and produced music for movies from as far back as 1955. Her love for the film didn’t end there, as she went on to produce them herself later in life, with those early days involving herself with the music side of things serving her well.
She had Her Own Perfume
While Mageshkar was renowned for her music, as seen by reading the above, it wasn’t strictly her only passion. But what music did do was open the door for her to explore her other passions in much greater detail. Mangeshkar was always a fan of fragrances, which led her to investigate how she could create her own. And, in 1999, came the Lata Eau de Parfum, much to the delight of her fans in India. As you will expect, Mangeshkar was involved at every stage of the process, including the design, which saw a coconut sitting atop a Kalash.
There was Even Bespoke Jewellery
We mentioned above how Mangeshkar had multiple passions, and another was jewelry, something which she was always seen wearing. Describing it as a “long-standing passion,” Mangeshkar was involved in creating a bespoke range of it alongside one of the largest diamond exporters in India. The line of jewelry made by Mangeshkar and diamond exporter Adora was called Swaranjali, with five pieces from the 2005 release being auctioned for £105,000 at Christie’s. Some of the funds raised then went to humanitarian aid projects such as those set up in the wake of the earthquakes in Kashmir and Jammu.
Her Diet was Designed Around Her Voice
The aim for every music artist is to keep their voice intact and as impressive as possible for as long as possible. And in the eyes of Mangeshkar, one of the ways to ensure this happened was to stick to a specific eating plan. Her eating plan, in the main, consisted of plenty of dos and don’ts, beginning with continuing to eat green chilies where possible. But, at the same time, drinking cold water was off the list, as she felt this would impede her voice. It’s also said that Mangeshkar’s go-to beverage was coffee, which she often drank during recording sessions. She also stuck to eating plans which saw not much consumed pre-concert.
The Best Female Playback Singer of All Time
It may seem pretty obvious, but the best singers are always recognized when they win awards, of which Mangeshkar won multiple. While she was a four-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer award, it was the fact that it was Mangeshkar who forced the creation of the accolade that stands out. The award didn’t exist when the award ceremony began taking place in 1954, but by 1959, after Mangeshkar refused to play at the event, the accolade was created. Splitting the award between males and females came sometime later, thanks to Mangeshkar.
