Surprise visitors at the Lata Mangeshkar’s house during Ganesh chaturthi : Bollywood News

Every year without fail, the Mangeshkars on Peddar Road in Mumbai receive one group of guests: the entire team of the infinite television show CID. Everyone knows CID is Lataji’s favourite television show. And every year during this festive season she welcomes the entire cast and crew of the serial for prayers and the very famous mirchi pakoda that’s served at the Mangeshkar home.

Surprise visitors at the Lata Mangeshkar’s house during Ganesh chaturthi

Says Lataji, “Yes, this year too the CID team came, like they do every year. And we look forward to having them home each year. They are most welcome. I am an avid CID fan. And I look forward to having them so I can talk to them about what will happen on the show in the coming weeks.”

This year Lataji’s family had a surprise visit from Shraddha Kapoor’s family who are related to the Mangeshkars. Says Lataji fondly, “They all came. Shraddha, her mother Shivangi and brother Siddhant. Shraddha’s two aunts Padmini and Tejaswini …It was such a pleasure to meet them. I’ve known Shraddha from the time she was a baby. I am glad she has not changed one bit after becoming a star. She is still a homely warm affectionate caring girl. I’ve seen her films. She’s a natural. Mazey ki baat yeh hai ki woh gaati bhi hai aur sur mein (she sings and in tune).”

However Ganesh Chaturthi at the Mangeshkars this year was a very subdued otherwise. Says Lataji, “The rain gods played havoc. And we lost a very bright and good doctor Deepak Amrpukar in a freak accident. He was known to our family and this young goodhearted doctor’s sudden death in the waterlogging stunned us. We were in no mood for festivities. Apparently the doctor was stuck in his car in the water. He decided to walk down as his home was nearby, fell into a manhole and died. What can we say about this death?”

The Melody Queen recalls how in the 2005 deluge in Mumbai her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar was stuck in the water. “The water had entered the car and was increasing. He wouldn’t be alive today if my driver Mahesh had not gone on a motorcycle and rescued him. Nature is trying to warn us. And we better listen.”