I have loved cooking since childhood, says Asha

“I used to love cooking from childhood. I remember those early days in Kolhapur when all my sisters and I used to get together to cook whenever there was a festival or other auspicious occasions. So that’s how my love for cooking started. But I seriously got into cooking only after my children were born. Whenever I would be invited to someone’s home for dinner, I used to request them to share their recipes with me. But these women would never pass on the actual recipes. Nevertheless, I used to memorise them, like my lyrics, and try them out. Sometimes the dishes would turn out good, but not always. But I never gave up and kept on trying till I perfected the recipes.”

What about learning from her sister Lata, did she pass on any recipes? “Didi (Lata Mangeshkar) knew only to make two or three dishes, but she would never allow us to enter her kitchen to find out what masalas she was using in her dishes! She would guard her recipes and keep them a secret.”

So what’s her favourite dish? “It’s difficult to point out one dish because I used to cook so many dishes, and after cooking so much, I didn’t have the appetite to eat. However, I would say my favourite is simple dal (lentil), chawal (steamed rice) with lemon or chilli pickle and some ghee (clarified butter) over the rice. I just love it!”

What were her husband R.D. Burman’s favourite dishes? “He used to love biryani and sweet dishes, and Bengali dishes, but more than any other cuisine, he used to love Lucknowi dishes. Those were his favourite.”