Shatrughan Sinha made his debut in a small role in Sajan (1969), which starred Asha. He stopped talking to her because of a comment she made on the set, and he continued to ignore her in their next film together Heera (1973). Many years later, he felt that his behavior was immature and started talking to her again, and said that she was "very gracious about it". In 2010, he said that they are very cordial to each other.
Acted as a child in small roles.
All five of her films with actor Dharmendra were hits. She denied an affair with the handsome actor with the ladies man reputation by stating that "I drew the lines in our friendship quite clearly".
Although actress Sharmila Tagore claims that she was first offered Kati Patang (1970), a claim confirmed by director Shakti Samanta, Asha denies that she was ever second-choice for the role that won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Although, Shammi Kapoor was her favorite leading man, and she also liked working with his younger brother Shashi Kapoor, her dream was to work with their elder brother, Raj Kapoor. But it was a half-realized dream because the film that she made with him, "Chor Mandili" (1982) never got released.
As a classically trained dancer, she did stage shows from childhood to middle-age.
Asha claims that she starred in a "very sweet film" with Shashi Kapoor titled "Sweetheart," (1970) directed by Suraj Prakash and written by Brij Katyal, but it was never released. (She also appeared in another unreleased film "Jaane Janna" in the 1980's, where she had a supporting role.).
Before Asha became a star with "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959), she shared scenes with Madhubala (the biggest female star in Hindi films) in "Jwala". Since Madhubala fell ill, the film was shelved. When she died in 1969, Asha attended her funeral and paid her last respects. "Jwala" resumed with various actresses doubling for Madhubala and was released two years after her death in 1971.
Began a highly successful career as a television director in the early 1990s with a Gujarati serial "Jyoti." Her production company, "Akruti", has come out with television serials "Palash ke Phool", "Baaje Payal", "Kora Kagaz" and a comedy "Dal Mein Kaala."
Claims she didn't have affairs with her leading men but loved playing pranks on them.
Claims to have turned down hit films that Hema Malini later accepted, such as Sharafat (1970) and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), the latter earned Malini the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Claims to have turned down these hit films that Sharmila Tagore later accepted: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aradhana (1969)(Tagore won the Filmfare Best Actress Award), and Chhoti Bahu (1971).
Claims to have turned down Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) for her longtime director Nasir Hussain that Zeenat Aman later accepted.
Didn't want to act in the film "Baharon Ke Sapne" (1967) for her longtime director Nasir Hussain, but he talked her into it. She later said the she enjoyed working with her then-unknown leading man Rajesh Khanna in this film, more so than in their later two films Kati Patang (1970) and Aan Milo Sajna (1970) since he became an established star by then and stopped having fun.
Director Vijay Bhatt fired her from her debut film as a heroine in "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959) claiming she wasn't star material. Almost immediately, director Nasir Hussain cast her in "Dil Deke Dekko" (1959) opposite Shammi Kapoor, which made her a star.
From 1998 to 2001, Asha was the first woman in history to be appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification ("film censor board") for which she received no salary but plenty of controversy, because she requested that many films be censored.
Had a complicated working relationship with Manoj Kumar. In their third film together, Manoj was not only the hero of "Upkar," but also the writer and director. He shushed Asha when she complained about the number of takes for a very early morning shot. She got upset and stopped talking to him. She didn't attend the film's premiere, even though the film's critical and box office success raised her asking price. However, she agreed to act with Manoj in their last film together "Sajan" (1969) at which time they started speaking together again. In 2009, she referred to him as a "very intelligent person".
Her favorite song is "Jayiye aap kahaan jaayenge" from the film Mere Sanam (1965).
Her first hero Shammi Kapoor initially wanted actress Waheeda Rehman to be his heroine for "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959) but agreed to meet Asha and saw that she was reading Harold Robbins' novel "The Carpetbaggers." He told the then sixteen-year-old that she was too young to be reading such a racy novel, and she cheekily responded, "Yes Chacha (Uncle)." And they hit it off immediately. For the rest of their lives, he called her bhatiji (niece) and she called him chacha (uncle).
Her personal favorite films are Do Badan (1966), Chirag (1969), Kati Patang (1970), Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).