Asha Bhosle, the legendary Bollywood singer whose voice defined Indian cinema for over eight decades, has died aged 92, her family confirmed on Sunday.
Bhosle passed away at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, on Saturday, April 11, night after suffering a heart attack and multi-organ failure following extreme exhaustion and a chest infection.
She had been admitted to the hospital on Saturday, April 11.
Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed the news to reporters: “My mother passed away today. Her last rites will be held at 4 P.M. tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai”.
The public can pay their last respects at 11 A.M. at Casa Grande, Lower Parel, where she lived.
An Extraordinary Eight-Decade Career
Born on September 8, 1933, in Sangli, Maharashtra, Asha Bhosle began her career in 1943 aged 10 with the Marathi song “Chala Chala Nav Bala”.
The younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, she went on to record more than 12,000 songs across ghazals, qawwalis, pop, folk, and classical genres in multiple Indian languages.
Bhosle’s distinctive voice powered countless Bollywood films, from seductive cabaret numbers like “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” and “Dum Maaro Dum” to soulful ghazals such as “Dil Cheez Kya Hai”.
She revolutionised Indian music with composer R.D. Burman, her husband, and gained international recognition through collaborations with Boy George and Australian cricketer Brett Lee.
Her accolades included two Grammy nominations, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s top arts honour, and the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 2024 with a live concert in Dubai.
Tributes Pour In
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said her “extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world”. President Droupadi Murmu called her death “an irreparable loss to music lovers”.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan wrote on X: “Her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come”.
Actor and MP Hema Malini said, “She who lent so much vivacity and character to her songs has left us grieving”.
Music composer A.R. Rahman posted, “She lives forever with her voice and aura… What an artist”.
Bhosle is survived by her son Anand Bhosle, who managed her career. Her passing marks the end of an era in Bollywood music.
