Nightingale warns of fake news

From the railway station to the recording studio, the swift journey of street singer Ranu Mondal is what fairytales are made of. But the singer, one among millions of women who imitate Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, is now becoming a problem for the Indian entertainment industry, as fabricated stories about her fling with fame and fortune are doing the rounds on the Internet. One story said that Salman Khan had offered the amateur singer a new home in Mumbai worth Rs 55 lakhs, along with a chance to sing in Dabangg 3. Salman’s team denied both stories.

Now, the delusional sagas of Mondal’s stardom have crossed all limits, with a new story that she has recorded a duet with the Nightingale herself. A photoshopped picture showing Mangeshkar blessing her imitator (actually a picture of Lata ji with her sister Asha Bhosle) is also being circulated to support the tale.

But the truth is that Mangeshkar has never heard of this woman, let alone sung a duet with her. “Who is she? “I’ve never heard of her, let alone met her. And I’m supposed to have a sung a duet with her? Samajh mein nahin aata kaun aisi ghalat baatein phailata hai (I can’t understand who spreads such wrong information),” she asks innocently, adding that people should be careful about fake news. “Using my name without my permission is morally and legally wrong. And the photograph of me with this woman is a scam. Please don’t believe what you see,” she warns. Mangeshkar concludes by wishing Mondal well, regardless.