Mangeshkar was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh to a classical singer and theatre actor named Dinanath Mangeshkar and his second wife named Shudhmati Mangeshkar (also known as Mai Mangeshkar). The Mangeshkars were a middle-class Maharashtrian family. Lata was the firstborn child, to be followed by siblings Meena Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Hridayanath Mangeshkar.
Raised in Maharashtra, at the age of 5 Mangeshkar started working as an actress in several plays known as "sangeet nataks" in which her father was performing. Her father also started giving her singing lessons. Dinanath's recitals and lessons left a strong impression on his daughter, as did the music of K.L. Saigal, who was her father's favorite singer and her idol.
