Lata Mangeshkar Remembers Sridevi

“My family and Boney Kapoor’s family have always been very close. Whenever  there is a family function Sridevi would come with  her husband. She was always warm and  affectionate. When I heard  that she was no more, I though it  was a cruel prank. I’ve been a victim of  hoax deaths often enough . But then someone told me  it is true, Sridevi is no more.How could fate be  so cruel?So young so beautiful and such a long way to go!  Sridevi has lip-synced some  of  my best songs in recent years including the iconic Mere haathon mein nau nau churiya hain in Chandni and Morni baghan ma in Lamhe. Her expressions  in these  two dance numbers matched my voice. I felt happy watching her dance to my songs. Maze ki baat yeh hai, Sridevi told me she  neverlearnt dancing . Not formally. When she was a child she just followed  the dance steps that were given to her . She learnt  to dance  on camera. And to be so good at it!  Her combination with Yashji(Yash Chopra)  was  extra-special. I also love her expressions in  my song Tere mere hothon pe in Chandni. She understood music and the emotions underline the lyrics. I remember I had not only sung a  devotional song Ek tu hi bharosa  hai in Boney Kapoor’s filmPukar, I  also appeared in the film to sing the  number. I remember Sridevi was there during the shooting. She suggested I wear a more colourful saree. I told I’d like to be seen on screen wearing the white saree with a coloured border that  I wore at my stage concerts.Sridevi readily agreed. ‘Aap jaisa chahenbilkul waisa hi kijiye,’ she said. I will always remember her as a  very beautiful human being. God seems to summon such people  a little quickly.”