Asha Bhonsle will be seen trying her luck with acting in a Bollywood with the movie, ‘Maaee’.  The movie is being produced by Subhash Dawar and Mahesh Kodiyal is the director. ‘Maaee’ means mother, and the movie basically tells the story of a mother who is abandoned by her only son and goes on to live with her daughter played by Padmini Kolhapure. The title track for ‘Maaee’ will be sung by Asha’s sister, celebrated musician Lata Mangeshkar.

A transition from singing to acting, was it a tough change? Acting is in my genes as my father was into dramatics. I agreed to act in ‘Maaee’ but later was in two minds about it, would I be able to do complete justice to the role. And then I was not very confident but left everything on god. Surprisingly after the initial start, now I feel acting is much easier than singing where you have to memorize the songs. I am happy that I took up this role. My initial fear to acting as a profession has been proved wrong. I am happy though but not conceited.
 
Do you feel like a newcomer between the professional actors?

I just don’t feel like a newcomer at all. Padmini and Ram have never been dominating or showing off their acting calibre as such. Actually we just behave normally and our very first shot gets okayed. Mahesh is a gem of person and he maintains his cool at all levels. While on the sets I don’t restrict myself to any certain diet, I relish everything and have a blast.
 
How have you mastered your command over Hindi for the movie?

Reading is my hobby and has helped me a lot to master Marathi as well as Hindi. Marathi is a rich language and I love to read Marathi novels. I have also read many Hindi novels, ‘Tagore Gora’ is my favourite Hindi novel.
 
Tell us about your sister Lata. Like all sisters Lata and I too had differences. And I still remember how my mother used to brainwash Lata by telling her ‘You know Asha is like that only, you should forgive her’ and then she would tell me, ‘You should always listen to your didi and respect her.’ My mother wanted all of us to stay united and with god’s grace we are all together. Lata didi always tells everyone, ‘Look! At Asha she may not like me advising her, I may even shout at her but she has never back answered me until today. Asha will always put her head down in front of me, though she may be hurt but she has never dared to disrespect me.’ Lata didi has been like mother to all of us.
 
What is your opinion about today’s generation?

Exposure to Television, particularly to growing up kids needs to be restricted. Watching love making scenes regularly entices the kids and very soon they may also lose their innocence. My grandchildren are only allowed to watch ‘Cartoon network’ and ‘Discovery channel’ and family oriented films. Because of the influence of television children lose their childhood at an early stage and gain adulthood much before their actual age. Instead I feel they should cultivate the habit of reading. If you read regularly it becomes easy for you to even master that particular language. Also reading enriches ones general knowledge. It is always better to inculcate the habit of reading in your kids rather than television
 
What is the importance of family values in today’s generation?

Today life has become so busy that parents don’t have enough time to spend with their children. They need to give ample time to their kids and inculcate our cultural as well as ethical values in them. After the children pass their tenth standard, they become rowdy. Hence parents need to control them right from their childhood days. I must say that a mother plays a vital role in nurturing the kids so she needs to execute her duties correctly.
 
How do you see the new age women as?

Women today don’t believe in sacrificing and compromising. These two words have gone missing from their dictionary. Their tolerance level too has gone down. While in a relationship we need to give in to an extent. I feel that late marriages could be the reason for so many divorces and breakups.

A cook at heart: Owning a chain of restaurants around the globe, noted singer Asha Bhosle shares her fondness for cooking and also her secret recipe. Asha Bhosle started off in Bollywood as a singer and now she will be seen experimenting with acting with the movie, 'Maaee'. But besides being a part of Bollywood, this talented woman runs a successful business of restaurants.

"I own restaurants in Dubai, two restaurants in Abu Dhabi, three in Kuwait and Emirates mall. Also I have two hotels in Doha and Bahrain, and one in Birmingham as well. My youngest Son Anand takes care of all these restaurants. He out of India visiting these restaurants for six months while the next six months he stays back home with us. Also the support and honesty of the international workers has helped make my restaurant a real success," says Asha.

And it does not end here, Asha Bhosle has plans to make more additions to her growing empire of restaurants. Speaking about her future ventures she says, "Presently I have zeroed on Mount Cairo and we are all set to open an Indian restaurant there. The doors of this restaurant will be thrown open in the month of January, 2011. Also I plan to open a restaurant in Mumbai and am on a lookout for a location of about 3000-4000 sq ft."

Asha is not just a restaurateur but has a great liking for cooking herself. She likes to make this specific 'masala' and add her special flavour to the menus. "All my recipes are Indian. Also I have named this one specific dish as 'Chandni Chowk Kheema' and I myself prepare the masala for the same," says Asha. And when we ask her about this secret 'masala' of hers, firstly she refuses to reply but a little coaxing and this cook gives in one ingredient. "Garam Masala is one spice that is churned to make that tasty masalsa. I make this masala with my own hands and send about 6to 7 bottles of it over to all these restaurants," says Asha.

And there is a reason why Asha prefers to make this masala herself and send it across to all the restaurants. Explaining the reason she says, "The only thing which I hate is 'Fusion food'. A dish prepared with a mix of Chinese, Italian or any other continental dishes. Hence I specifically make the Indian masala which will surely add a different flavour to the recipe."We know Asha as a singer and now even as a successful business woman and an ardent cook. Seems like this multifaceted personality still has many hidden talents.