Remember the song - Humse ka bhool huyi jo yeh saza humko mili, from Rajesh Khanna starrer Janta Havaladar produced by Mehmood?
Well, the singer Anwar, who sang that song, and who happens to be Arshad Warsi's half-brother, is now living a life of penury, singing in Mumbai's dingy bars, says a media report.
Anwar's other famous songs were: Sohni Meri Sohni..Rab se zyada tera naam leta hoon (Film" Sohni Mahiwal), Yeh pyar tha ya kuch aur tha (Film: Prem Rog), Mohabbat ab tizarat (Film: Arpan), Zindagi Imtihan Leti Hai (Film: Naseeb).
The singer, who once lent his voice to Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, says, not just the industry, but his own family has turned a blind eye to his predicament.
Anwar, who once shared the mike with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, is now reduced to singing in bars, where he barely gets noticed, to keep his kitchen fires burning.
On Wednesday, when the reporter met him, he didn't have work because it was a dry day.
Anwar says, he is utterly disillusioned. He says, Arshad is in no mood to help him either. “Arshad doesn't take my calls. He replies only in monosyllables on text messages. I asked him for a loan, which would have been a great help, but he shot back with a text, saying ‘Sorry'.”
“Even my sister doesn't help me. Like Arshad, she too is doing very well in her life. I have a small land in Kasara. But surely, I can't sell that. What wilI be left with then?” he adds.
“I make only about Rs 5,000 per month,” says Anwar, who performs at Star Night bar in Santacruz, among others.
Anwar also does some stage shows but they don't come by as frequently. “I have two small children - two and six years old. I have to feed and educate them. I have no other source of income,” says he, breaking into tears.
“A year ago I took a bank loan of Rs 15 lakh for my album Tohfa. When I could not pay the debt, the bank took over my house at Yari Road, which I had mortgaged. We shifted to Mira Road after that,” he says.
“I do not have contacts with new composers and the industry has forgotten me,” he says.
Anwar says the younger generation does not appreciate his hits either.
“Nobody is willing to meet me. Some people even said that I should put money in projects if they would give me a second chance,”he alleges.
“Abhi bhi meri aawaz mein dum hai,” he concludes clenching his fist. Any takers?
