Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who ruled the Indian music industry for over seven decades, once made a shocking revelation about her health scare in the early 1960s. In one of her candid conversations, later documented in the book Lata Mangeshkar in Her Own Voice, the Bharat Ratna awardee revealed that she was allegedly subjected to “slow poisoning” by a domestic servant.

A Mysterious Illness in 1962

The year was 1962 when Lataji suddenly fell gravely ill. She recalled waking up one morning with intense unease in her stomach, accompanied by vomiting. The condition worsened so much that she was unable to move from her bed. Her vomit reportedly turned greenish, and she grew extremely weak. For nearly three months, she remained bedridden, unable to resume her singing commitments.

Doctors were called home, and an X-ray machine had to be brought to her residence since she was too frail to travel. According to her, the doctor delivered a shocking observation — she was being poisoned gradually.

Usha Mangeshkar Took Over Household Duties

Following the doctor’s revelation, Lata’s younger sister Usha Mangeshkar decided to personally oversee the kitchen. The family stopped relying on domestic staff for meals. Soon after, the servant in question reportedly left the household without even collecting pending wages.

Why No Action Was Taken

Though the Mangeshkar family suspected the culprit, Lata Mangeshkar later admitted that they refrained from taking any legal action. “We had no proof against the person,” she had said. This lack of evidence prevented the family from pursuing the matter further.

False Rumours of Losing Her Voice

During her illness, rumours spread that Lata might lose her voice permanently. The singer, however, clarified that no doctor ever warned her of such a possibility. Though weakened, she eventually recovered and resumed her career. Her first song after recovery was the hauntingly beautiful “Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil” from the 1962 film Bees Saal Baad. The song went on to become a timeless classic, further cementing her place as the ‘Nightingale of India’.

A Scary Chapter in an Illustrious Life

The episode remains one of the most chilling incidents from the life of Lata Mangeshkar, who rarely spoke about personal struggles in public. Despite the setback, she bounced back with determination, going on to create an unparalleled legacy in Indian music.