In the early 2000s, veteran Bollywood singer Alka Yagnik was among the most well-known singers. She made her acting debut in the 1981 movie Pyar ki Jhankaar, and she went on to produce a number of hits for the industry. When the Agar Tum Saath Ho singer's father passed away in 2000, she also experienced a difficult time in her life. Alka recently told an interesting revelation about how renowned music director Anu Malik persuaded her to sing for the Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor-starring film Refugee.
"When the songs of Refugee were recorded, I was going through deep depression. I lost my father, and I was closest to my father in my family. He died at the age of 58 and it did not manifest as much at that time, but the following couple of years, I went into deep depression. I would not sing, I would not record, I would refuse to go out. I would lock myself in my room, My mom, my brother, my friends... Syesha (Syesha Kapoor, Alka's daughter) was also very young and would tell me 'mamma sab theek ho jaega (Mom, everything will be fine). I used to be upset because it was also bothering her, as she saw me like that," she reevaled.
She further revealed, "So, phone calls would often come with offers for recordings. I used to tell my mum 'I do not want to record', and she'd tell me 'this is not how things work, get out and you will be able to cope, and get your mind out of this thing'. Then Anu Malik called saying JP Dutta is working on this film - a launch of Abhishek and Kareena. He told me 'we have made some beautiful music for it, and you have to sing the song'. I refused saying I could not, but he came to my house and sat down dharna de ke. He said 'you have to come and record, if you do not, then I will not record'. I said I did not want to and literally, haath pakad ke (he held my hand and) he took me to the studio."
In Refugee, Alka has sung songs like Aisa Lagta hai, Mere Humsafar, Panchi Nadiya Pawan ke, Raat Ki Hatheli Par and Taal Pe Jab.
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