'Queen Of Melody' Lata Mangeshkar Began Her Career As An Actor, THIS Was Her First Film, Read On

She got her first break in a Marathi film titled 'Pahili Mangalaa-gaur' in 1942, at the age of 13.

Picture Courtesy: AFP

New Delhi: 'Queen of Melody' Lata Mangeshkar is known for her singing prowess. The veteran singer who left for her heavenly abode on Sunday, February 6, has more than 5,000 songs to her credit in 13 different languages. But very few know that Lata Mangeshkar began her career as an actor. 

Lata Mangeshkar was born to theatre artistes and singers, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar and Shevanti, in Indore.

Lata was not much interested in acting, but owing to her father's sudden demise when she was only 13, she had to work in a few Hindi and Marathi films. She got her first break in a Marathi film titled 'Pahili Mangalaa-gaur' in 1942, at the age of 13. She essayed the role of the younger sister of the lead actress, Snehprabha Pradhan. She also sang the song 'Nataali Chatraachi Lavalai' in the film, which was composed by Datta Javadekar. 

She later played a minor role in Master Vinayak's 'Badi Maa' in 1945. Her sister Asha Bhonsle was also a part of the film. Lata Mangeshkar also did films like 'Maajhe bal, Chimkula Sansaar' (1943), 'Gajbhaau' (1944). 'Jeevan Yatra' (1946), 'Maand' (1948) and 'Chatrapati Shivaji' (1952).

Lata Mangeshkar went on to make her mark in the industry with the song 'Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhoda' in the 1948 film, Majboor. And then there was no turning back for the legendary singer, who established herself as one of the legends of the music industry. 

Lata Mangeshkar is fondly known as the 'Nightingale of India', and has lent her voice to all the leading ladies of the Hindi film industry, ranging from Madhubala to Preity Zinta. She was conferred with the 'Bharat Ratna Award'- India's highest civilian honour, in 2001.