Tweet

Find out the real name of the nightingale of India…

The world knows her by the name Lata and most people can recognise her as the first silvery note comes out from her throat. But not many know that she has another name, the ‘real’ one that her parents gave her. Dinanath and Shevanti Mangeshkar named their baby daughter Hema. But it was as Lata that she earned her fame. This is not a new story in Bollywood. There are so many others, as well known, who started out life as someone else, but found success only when their names changed. Like Dilip Kumar, originally called Yusuf Khan; Amitabh Bachchan, who began as a Srivastav; Haribhai Jariwala who became Sanjeev Kumar; Devdutt Pishorimal Anand earned his awards as Dev Anand; Ajit was once Hamid Ali Khan; Jeetendra’s parents originally names him Ravi Kapoor; Johnny Walker morphed from Badruddin Qazi, Johnny Lever from John Prakasa Rao Janumala and Ashok Kumar moved identity from Kumud Ganguly. The stars we know and love today also made changes: Ajay Devgn was once Vishal Devgan, Akshay Kumar was Rajiv Bhatia, John Abraham’s first name is actually Farhan, Mallika Sherawat started in films as Reema Lamba, Salman Khan’s full moniker is Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan and Aamir’s is Aamir Hussain Khan, and Kamal Haasan was once Alwarpettai Andavar. Of course, everyone’s favourite hero Rajinikanth has never been shy of telling the world his real name: Shivaji Rao Gaekwad!

ALSO READ: Lata Mangeshkar used to travel alone at night