Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who has entertained audiences with her melodious voice for over six decades, unveiled her wax figure at Madame Tussauds museum in Delhi. Her wax statue will be displayed at the Bollywood music zone alongside other leading singers in an interactive themed environment.
“When they asked me where should they place my wax figure, I told them to put it between Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson,” she said laughingly.
At the unveiling ceremony, she thanked Madame Tussauds for choosing her. “In 1970, I came to London and it was that year they launched Madame Tussauds. Then I visited the one in New York. From India, only Indira Gandhi's wax figure could make it to the list. But, I could not have imagined that one day my wax statue too would become a part of Madame Tussauds. I am very happy and thankful to Madame Tussauds for considering my wax figure,” she said.
The wax figure has been immortalized after the legendary singer worked with a team of experts who worked with her and noted her every detail intricately.
"I have won many awards... I have got honours from the government and even hold a Guinness World Record. I have got it all. But the way I am, they (Madame Tussauds' artistes) have made me (the figure) like that only, and watching that is making me very happy and proud.
"I am feeling proud of those who have made it for making it well. I am happy that I am one of those they have chosen from India (for the museum)... This is India's victory, not mine," Asha said.
The legendary singer looked radiant and elegant in an off-white sari, complete with sparkling solitaires in the ears, a pearl string on her neck, a bindi and white flowers adorning her hair.
“When the craftsmen from London visited me, they asked me to pose for them. I even held the pose for the whole day while they were clicking me. They even matched the colour of my eyes and hair. They noted every single detail intricately. The wax statue gives me the impression as if I am looking at myself in the mirror. If I wore that sari, I would have looked like this only," she said.
Anshul Jain, General Manager and Director, Merlin Entertainments India Pvt Ltd, who was also present at the unveiling ceremony said that the legendary singer's wax figure comes at the right time. “At this point of time, we are coming up with different sections at Madame Tussauds like music, history, sports, etc and in this first lot of 50 wax figures, Ashaji's figure is already there. It's not late because as soon as we have entered in India, the wax figure of the singer of the century is already there.”
Asked what are her expectations and ambitions in life after working hard for so many years, Asha said: "I don't keep any such ambitions. God gives a lot... I am in the 85th year of my life, 84 have finished... In my mind, there was this desire (about the wax figure) and that has got fulfilled.
"I don't expect much from life... Whatever God gives, I am happy in that. And whatever work God gives, I work hard on that. It has reaped benefits. I gave my work my all and I sang every song like my first song."
Summing up the launch, Asha gave into a request for a song, and broke into the evergreen Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko, sounding as young and melodious as when the song first saw Zeenat Aman strumming away a guitar in the 1973 film Yaadon Ki Baaraat.
Madame Tussauds Delhi that will be opened on December 1 has already announced the wax figures of iconic stars such as Shreya Ghoshal, Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kapoor, Mahatama Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Kapil Dev, Milkha Singh and Madhubala. The attraction has already opened the pre-booking of the tickets on it's official website.
— With additional inputs from IANS
