Deepa is the only woman in my life-Udit N

Deepa is the only woman in my life

Udit Narayan rubbishes claims of being married to Ranjana Jha

Subhash K Jha

The scandal that recently broke out in Patna with a woman, Ranjana Jha, claiming to be Udit Narayan's first wife has shattered the singer's morale.

"It so sad and shameful," Udit says, breaking his silence. "I don't know how to cope with this blatant lie that has been thrust into my life. I'm a man from a decent Brahmin family in Nepal. I started my career singing at melas where I was paid 25 and 50 paise. I'm a self-made man and have never courted any controversy before. I've begun to feel I'm being punished for some wrong I've done in my past life. I've always wanted to be counted among playback singers like Mohd Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor and Manna Dey, who were known for their spotless reputation. I wanted today's generation to think of Udit Narayan as a man of integrity and honesty."


It's so sad and shameful

All hell broke loose on Friday in Patna, when Ranjana Jha, tried to force her entry into the suite occupied by Udit Narayan and his wife Deepa. Police intervention enabled Udit to get to the airport to catch a flight to New Delhi. Recounting the incident he says, "I went to Patna to attend my niece's wedding last week," he says. "I had just returned to the hotel after the wedding at 6 a.m. when this incident occurred. I had barely slept for two hours. I thought the hotel was under siege. Fortunately, my wife Deepa was with me. Otherwise I'd have probably died of shock."

In the same breath he categorically denies knowing the woman in question – Ranjana Jha. "It's been 26 years since I've been living in Mumbai," he says.

"Why has this kind of a scandal come my way now? If the lady claims she is Udit wife, why did she come to the hotel in Patna with media persons and goondas? Approximately 150 people descended on the hotel where I was staying," says Udit. "That lady claims she had met me two years ago. But I haven't been to my native village for six years."

What about the pictorial evidence of their marriage which Ranjana produced? "It was fudged. The lady has no proof that I've had any communication with her," he says. "I belong to Mithila. Strong values have been imbibed in me."

Away from scandal, Udit has several exciting projects he is awaiting. "I've produced two Bhojpuri films -- Kab Hoyebi Gauna Hamaar was shot in Mauritius and Kab Kahbaw Tu I Love You is almost ready. It has been shot in Gorakhpur and Darjeeling."

As a playback singer, has he stagnated? "Music has no limits. After 60 years of singing and being accepted by the whole world as the Nightingale of India, Lataji still wants better her singing. I want to sing better songs with a variety of music directors."

He admits there's an unhealthy competition among the singers in Mumbai these days. "But I believe in God and myself. I've never forgotten my humble beginning. I came to Mumbai in 1978 and struggled for the next ten years," he says.

That brings us to his son Aditya Narayan who is 19 now. "He has just left for London for further studies. He's got an aptitude for both singing and acting. And I leave it to him to decide what he wants to do. Now that he's in London I do miss him. He's my only son. To have got a son like Aditya and a wife like Deepa is a big blessing. Please let me reiterate, Deepa is the only lady in my life."

Why has this kind of a scandal come my way now? If the lady claims she is my wife, why did she come to the hotel in Patna with media persons and goondas? Approximately 150 people descended on the hotel where I was staying," says Udit. "She claimed to have met me two years ago. But I haven't been to my native village for six years."

What about the pictorial evidence of their marriage that Ranjana produced? "It was fudged. The lady has no proof that I've had any communication with her," he says. "I belong to Mithila. Strong values have been imbibed in me."

Away from scandal, Udit has several exciting projects he is awaiting. "I've produced two Bhojpuri films – Kab Hoyebi Gauna Hamaar was shot in Mauritius and Kab Kahbaw Tu I Love You is almost ready. It has been shot in Gorakhpur and Darjeeling." As a playback singer, has he stagnated? "Music has no limits. After 60 years of singing and being accepted by the whole world as the Nightingale of India, Lataji still wants better her singing. I want to sing better songs with a variety of music directors."

He admits there's an unhealthy competition among the singers in Mumbai these days. "But I believe in God and myself. I've never forgotten my humble beginnings. I came to Mumbai and struggled," he says.

That brings us to his son Aditya, who is 19 now. "He has just left for London for further studies. He's got an aptitude for both singing and acting. And I leave it to him to decide what he wants to do. Now that he's in London I do miss him. He's my only son. To have a son like Aditya and a wife like Deepa is a big blessing. Please let me reiterate, Deepa is the only woman in my life," the singer emphasises

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