From the time she sang Ghar jayegi tar jayegi doliyaan chadh jayegi for Gulzar in the film Khushboo Asha Bhosle has shared a very special rapport with her Gulzar Bhai. Expressing great joy at Gulzar Saab’s latest recognition Ashaji said, “Our team-- Pancham, Gulzar Bhai and I-- was unbeatable. Together we created some great songs. Don’t ask me to name my favourities. I love every song that I did with Pancham and Gulzar Bhai.” Ashaji says she was instrumental in bringing Gulzar Saab and R D Burman together. “If I hadn’t intervened I wonder if these two compatible creative giants would have ever found one another! Neither of them is the kind who would have reached out on their own. Don’t ask me why. But I instinctively felt Pancham and Gulzar Bhai were meant to make music together. Long before they created that song for Lata Didi, Sili hawa choo gayee in Libaas, I could hear that tune coming from Pancham and I could see Gulzar Bhai finding the right words for that beautiful composition. Aisa ttha hamara tuning. The three of us would think together about a song even before it was created.” Besides music, what bound Ashaji to Pancham and Gulzar was food. “You know I love to cook. And the two of them loved to eat. So it suited us fine. Main khana banaati, woh donon khaate...Main khush woh donon bhi khush. Gulzar Bhai loves my karela ghosht and my Bengali kheer.” Not that there were no disputes. “There were arguments, yes. But not between Gulzar Bhai and Pancham. They’d never have serious disputes. Jhagde hotey tthey mere saath (they’d squabble with me). But it would always come out right at the end because I had the deadly combination of khaana and gaana on my side.” The enchanting songstress recalls a historic interview that she participated in with Gulzar Saab and Pancham. “I remember they arrived together looking serious solemn and worried. I rushed to the venue and immediately started talking incessantly. Gulzar Saab laughed and said, ‘Asha hansi lekar aati hai jahaan bhi jaati hai.’ I love to spread happiness among people. What’s the point of being sad and upset in front of others? You know what they say, ‘Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.’ Maine bahot taqleef dekhen hain. But the pain is all mine. The laughter is for others. I think Gulzar Saab and Pancham enjoyed my company not just because I sang their songs but also because I made them happy with my food and laughter. People often ask me, ‘Agar aap gaati nahin toh kya karti?’ My answer is simple. If I didn’t sing I would have cooked for an income. I needed to make a living for my children. Gulzar Saab and Pancham always liked my never-say-die spirit. Even today I am singing for films, though don’t ask me where and for whom. I just sing and come home. I am also doing live concerts. Even as we speak I am packing to leave for Kolkata for a concert.” Suddenly the spirited singer realizes she has so far only spoken of Gulzar Saab in tandem with Pancham. “That’s because both are so connected in my mind. However I met Gulzar Bhai for the first time when I recorded a song for composer Vasant Desai. He was present at the recording. He was so quiet and unobtrusive. That hasn’t changed. Gulzar Bhai likes to make his presence felt quietly. When I see how far he has come in his life I feel happy. The Dadasaheb Phalke award honours a very deserving artiste this year. As I speak to you I remember all the beautiful songs Gulzar Bhai has written for me: Mera kuch samaan in Ijaazat, Yeh saaye hain in Sitara, Phir se aiyo badra bidesi in Namkeen and all those fabulous songs in the non-film album Dil Padosi Hai. Sachchi, yeh bade khaas kalaakar hain.”