For veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, his actor wife Shabana Azmi, the COVID-19 lockdown is also tied with the many memories they shared with singing legend Asha Bhosle, who loved being praised for her culinary skills more than her singing.For Akhtar and Azmi, the passing away of the legendary singer, who died on Sunday at the age of 92, is not just the loss of a colleague but of a close friend and a great storyteller.During COVID-19, Akhtar and Azmi were staying in Khandala, while Bhosle was a short distance away in Lonavala with her family, both popular hill stations in Maharashtra.”In Khandala, I discovered one thing that no matter how much you praise her song, she will not be as happy with it but if you tell her that the food is very good, that ‘kebab’ or ‘dal’ ‘kamal ke bane hai’, then Asha ji would be most happy listening to this. It gave her the ultimate happiness,” Akhtar told PTI in an interview.The lyricist said Bhosle was a great cook and they would often land at her place for food or she would come over to their house.”I’ve eaten ‘puran poli’ but she was proud of her kebabs. She used to cook herself, and she used to cook very well, you don’t get that (kind of taste) anywhere else,” Akhtar told PTI.Azmi said as a spectator, she particularly enjoyed the exchange of “hilarious anecdotes” shared by Akhtar and Bhosle.”During COVID we became very close because we were stuck in Khandala and she with family were in Lonavala. She would cook the most delicious meals for us and between Javed and her, we would be regaled with hilarious anecdotes from the industry. Her memory is phenomenal and she could be very candid,” the 75-year-old actor said.Akhtar, who worked with Bhosle on iconic tracks like ‘Jaane Do Na’ from the film “Saagar” and ‘Radha Kaise Na Jale’ from “Lagaan”, described Bhosle as a “zinda dil person”.”Shararat, masti, and energy” flowed into her singing, according to Akhtar.”When you listen to her, you will see how much youthfulness, erotic and seductive quality she had in her voice,” he said, adding, “She was a great story teller and her had a very cheeky sense of humour.”Akhtar also reflected on Bhosle’s singing career and said despite being born into the same household as Lata Mangeshkar she carved out a distinct identity, which he calls “no ordinary” thing.”The new singers who used to come at that time, they all tried to copy Lata ji. But her own younger sister found her own way and style. Today, Asha Bhosle is recognised by her own style,” he said.”A long time ago, I did an interview for a channel for Lata ji and Lata ji had told me one thing. She said, ‘Asha can sing all the songs that I’ve sung. But I will not be able to sing all the songs that Asha has sung’. This is a big compliment that came from Lata Mangeshkar,” the 81-year-old lyricist said.Azmi called Bhosle her “most favourite singer of all time” and highlighted the unmatched charm in her voice.”Unki aawaz mein jo ras hai, jo shararat, hai it’s unmatched. Paeans will continue to be written about her and her voice will remain immortal but what I will cherish the memories she has left behind for us. What I admire most is her gumption her fearlessness and her desire to take risks and push her own parameters,” Azmi said.Interestingly, Azmi’s mother, Shaukat Kaifi, played Khanum Jaan in the 1981 film “Umrao Jaan”, and later Azmi played the same role in the 2006 version of the film.Bhosle had lend her voice for the 1981 film and sang chartbusters tracks such as ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’, ‘Inn Aankhon Ki Masti Ke’, ‘Ye Kya Jagah Hai Doston’, ‘Jab Bhi Milti Hai’, and ‘Justuju Jiski Thi’. The film, directed by Muzaffar Ali and starring Rekha, earned the singer her first National Film Award for Best female playback singer.Khayyam composed the music of “Umrao Jaan”, which featured and Shahryar penned the lyrics.Bhosle’s warmth, mischief, and her legendary kebabs will linger in the hearts of those who knew her.