ses. He was ware that I was totally devoted to my children (Anand,
Hemant and Varsha). If my children weren't around perhaps I wouldn't have
married again. I didn't want them to feel embarrassed; I wanted them to hold
their heads up high.
How did your children take to R.D.Burman as a step-father?
He was no stranger to them. They'd call him Pancham uncle.
You're first marriage had ended bitterly. So didn't you hesitate before taking
the plunge again?
You tell me... do all marriages have to end bitterly? All marriages have their
own specific problems. And the second time around, I was more alert. Once bitten
twice shy. We both had our independence and yet we were bonded. He wanted me to
have my own identity.. and I tried not to be the typical nagging wife.
Were there things about him that you wanted to control but couldn't?
I didn't approve of his drinking. He had diabetes, so I also tried to control
his eating habits. But he wasn't a two-year old kid. I couldn't possibly have
taken him on my lap and spoon-fed him! Since I'd have to go for recordings or
concerts, he'd slip back into his old ways. I didn't like his late nights as
well. He'd stay awake late into the night listening to music.. or he'd go out
for a party or two.
He'd just returned from a party the night he died. Do you feel guilty about
not being there when he needed you?
Who says I wasn't there? I'd gone to Pancham's house at Khar around midnight.
But since he'd gone out I went to my house in Prabhu Kunj. When I got a call
that he wasn't feeling well, I rushed immediately to his house. My son drove
like mad; we reached there in 15 minutes. He held my hand, he spoke a fe ..... |
