📌 Key Points
- Padmini Kolhapure credits Asha Bhosle for her debut in ‘Ishk Ishk Ishk’ after Bhosle introduced her to Dev Anand.
- Kolhapure and Bhosle shared a close family bond; Bhosle was the paternal cousin of Kolhapure’s father.
- Bhosle insisted on Kolhapure’s presence in her acting debut, ‘Mai’ (2013).
- Kolhapure remembers Bhosle’s love for Mooga Mole Randai and the saris she gifted on her last birthday.
Padmini Kolhapure revealed that Asha Bhosle played a crucial role in launching her career. Bhosle introduced her to Dev Anand, leading to her debut film. Their relationship was deeply rooted in family, with Bhosle being Kolhapure’s father’s cousin.
A Family Connection: Kolhapure and Bhosle
Actor Padmini Kolhapure’s association with late singer Asha Bhosle goes beyond films; it is rooted in family. The two, who worked together in Mai (2013) — Bhosle’s acting debut at 79 — are connected through Padmini’s father, late Pandharinath Kolhapure, a first cousin of Bhosle and her sister, late singer Lata Mangeshkar.
“She introduced me to (late actor) Dev Anand, because of which I landed my debut Ishk Ishk Ishk (1974). I called her Asha atya [father’s sister in Marathi]. As a child, I remember her coming home every Diwali with a bag full of gifts,” she shares.
The Role of Asha Bhosle in Kolhapure’s Debut
Talking about Bhosle’s decision to take on Mai, the 60-year-old reveals, “I remember her saying, ‘I will only do the film if Padmini is in it’.”
She also lists some of her favourite songs sung by Bhosle that were picturised on her. “Kabhi Kisiko Muqammal Jahan Nahi Milta (Ahista Ahista, 1981), Puchho Na Yaar Kya Hua (Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai, 1981), Anari Ka Khelna (Woh 7 Din, 1983), and so many more,” she says.
Memories and Favorite Moments with Asha
Kolhapure fondly recalls more intimate memories: “On her last birthday, she gifted Poonam (Dhillon, actor-politician) and me saris from her personal collection. Her favourite dish was Mooga Mole Randai, a Saraswat dish from the coastal regions of Goa, Karwar and Mangalore. She especially loved the one my father would prepare.”
The bond between Padmini Kolhapure and Asha Bhosle extended beyond professional collaborations, rooted in deep family ties and cherished memories. Kolhapure fondly remembers Bhosle’s influence and her generous spirit.
