“He Always Liked My Dahls”: Jer Bulsara’s Warm Memories of Freddie Mercury’s Homecomings, Generosity, and Deep Devotion to Family
In the whirlwind life of Freddie Mercury—rock icon, frontman of Queen, and global superstar—there remained one constant: his enduring bond with his mother, Jer Bulsara. Though he would go on to command stages around the world and live in luxury homes across London, Freddie never lost the grounding influence of home, family, and especially, his mother’s cooking. In a touching recollection, Jer spoke about the deeply human side of her famous son—one that rarely made headlines but told the fuller story of a man who, beneath the flamboyance, was deeply devoted to those he loved.
Freddie’s rise to fame didn’t create distance; instead, he continued returning to his roots. Whether it was to a modest flat or the grand house he later owned in Kensington, he always made a point to come home when not on tour. And when he did, it wasn’t the glitz he craved—it was comfort, familiarity, and Jer’s homemade dishes. “He always liked my cooking, especially my dahls, sweet and sour mince, and cheese biscuits,” she recalled with quiet pride. Even when entertaining high-profile guests at his own home, Freddie would sometimes ask his mother to prepare the dishes he grew up with, honoring not just her skills in the kitchen but the cultural and emotional heritage they represented.
Jer also remembered his extraordinary generosity—never performative, but personal and thoughtful. Once, after missing a meal they had planned, Freddie surprised her with a full antique silver cutlery set to apologize. “I didn’t like to use it as it was so posh,” she admitted, “so I only put it out when he came.” It was a symbol not just of luxury, but of respect—his way of saying her time, her effort, and her love mattered deeply to him.
Even when the roles were reversed and she visited his home, Freddie never forgot who she was to him. With a professional cook now in his employ, he would host meals for his parents, but the son never let the mother serve. “When I went into the kitchen out of habit to help,” Jer said, “he’d insist I sit down and relax.” That small gesture revealed so much—beneath the sequins and stadiums was still Farrokh Bulsara, the boy from Zanzibar who never stopped being his mother’s son.
Jer Bulsara’s memories remind us that Freddie Mercury’s story isn’t just about musical genius and theatrical grandeur. It’s also about family, food, humility, and the quiet ways love endures—even in the life of a legend.