Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose versatile voice defined generations of music lovers, has died in Mumbai. She was 92. Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed the news, saying: “She is no more. Her last rites will be held at 4pm tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.”
According to family sources, Asha Bhosle was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Saturday (April 11) after suffering from extreme exhaustion and a chest infection, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle earlier wrote on X.
Known for timeless hits such as “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja”, “Kajra Mohabbat Wala”, “Rangeela Re” and “Dil Cheez Kya Hai”, Bhosle would have turned 93 on September 8 this year. She began her playback career at the age of 10, singing “Chala Chala Nav Bala” for the 1943 Marathi film “Majha Bal”. Over the decades, she became one of Indian cinema’s most versatile voices, equally acclaimed for cabaret numbers, ghazals and classical compositions. Initially typecast for dance numbers, she later earned critical acclaim for songs such as “Dil Cheez Kya Hai” and “Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye”.
The younger sister of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle was part of the iconic Mangeshkar family, including sisters Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar, and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar. She often spoke about comparisons and rumours of rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar, saying the bond between them remained strong despite public narratives.
Throughout her career, Bhosle lent her voice to leading actresses across generations, including Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh, Rekha, Urmila Matondkar, Karisma Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In 2000, she received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, followed by the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. She also won two National Awards for “Umrao Jaan” (1981) and “Ijaazat” (1988).
Even in her later years, Bhosle remained active, performing live concerts and engaging with fans on social media platforms. She last recorded a Hindi film song in 2022 and released a single, “Saiyaan Bina”, at the age of 91. In 2023, she celebrated her 90th birthday with a live concert in Dubai, saying music was her “breath”. “People die when they stop breathing. For me, music is my breath,” she said in an earlier interview.
Asha Bhosle married Ganpatrao Bhosle at 16 and had three children. The marriage later ended in separation. She later married music composer Rahul Dev Burman. The couple did not have children together. She is survived by her son Anand Bhosle.
