Zoheb Hassan recalls how Ratan Tata invited him and Nazia Hassan to record songs for his music company

Renowned vocalist Zoheb Hassan fondly recalled his encounter with the late Indian business tycoon, Ratan Tata, who passed away on Wednesday night. 

Tata had invited Zoheb and his late sister, Nazia Hassan, to record an album for his music company.

Ratan Tata, the business mogul who led Tata Group for two decades was honoured with India’s second-highest civilian award for revolutionising his country’s trade and industry. Tata passed away at the age of 86.

Known for his humble nature and simple lifestyle, Ratan Tata reached out to the Pakistani singing duo, offering them an opportunity to record an album for CBS India, his music company.

Zoheb Hassan took to Instagram following Tata’s passing and shared his memories of their first encounter, describing him as "a very simple man."

“On Friday a tall, impeccably dressed man in a suit arrived at our residence. He had a gentle smile on his face and was extremely soft spoken,” Zoheb recalled.

The Dosti singer added, “He seemed so sincere when he spoke. We had no idea who he was and he never bragged about himself. He just said "if you guys agree then let's make it happen.”

Zoheb and Nazia recorded the Young Tarang album, which featured what was likely the first music video India and South Asia had ever seen.

“This was around the time MTV had just launched in the US MTV called us and said they had never seen anything like it and asked if we had produced anything in English. Doordarshan played the music videos in India, and the album outsold even Disco Deewane,” he reminisced.

The siblings were unaware of Tata's true stature until the launch of the album. Zoheb shared, “When we finally met Mr Ratan Tata on the launch of the album at the Taj Hotel in #mumbai we were then told by the MD of CBS India who this great man was."

Tata later invited Zoheb and Nazia to his residence for lunch, where they were surprised by his simplicity.

Ratan Tata lived in “a small two-bedroom flat, sparsely decorated. We met his sister, one servant, and an Alsatian whom he loved dearly. It was a simple dinner with a great man that I will never forget.”

“A true gentleman and an icon of the business world RIP,” Zoheb concluded.