Lata Mangeshkar on her 91st birthday – “Any kind of celebration seems not just inappropriate but highly insensitive”

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“No guests, only phone calls,” says Lata Mangeskhar about her 91st birthday. “My first and hopefully last birthday during the Covid-19 virus.” India’s resident Nightingale turned 91 quietly on September 28 without fanfare.

“Waise bhi mujhe jyada shor-sharaba pasand nahin hai. Aur iss baar toh bilkul nahin (even otherwise I’m not too fond of people making a fuss about my birthday). There are so many people suffering and dying all over the world. Any kind of celebration seems not just inappropriate but highly insensitive,” says Lata Mangeshkar, as her phones go berserk with birthday greetings from well-wishers.

She recalls a time when she had to move out of her home every year on her birthday to avoid the crowds. “They all wanted to see me on my birthday. It used to get impossible for me to cope with the visitors and guests. So yes, I used to shift to a hotel on my birthday.”

Lata Mangeshkar has nothing but gratitude for all the good wishes she received on her birthday this year. “It is impossible for me to acknowledge all the good wishes. But I do want to say that the love that I get at my age from my well-wishers all over the world is the biggest gift anyone can receive. I hope next year at this time we’ll be back to normal, so I can see some of my well-wishers and friends.”

Also Read: “I never listen to my songs. If I did, I’d find a hundred mistakes in my singing" - Lata Mangeshkar