Asha Bhosle was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on April 11. She passed away on April 12. The singer’s granddaughter stated that her health had deteriorated due to a chest infection and fatigue.
Add informalnewz.com as a Preferred Source
Asha Bhosle, one of Bollywood’s legendary singers, has bid farewell to the world. She was 92 years old. Asha Bhosle was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on April 11. Dr. Pratit Samdani, a physician at the hospital, had confirmed that the singer was under his care. The singer’s granddaughter had stated that her health had deteriorated due to a chest infection and fatigue. However, news has now emerged that Asha Bhosle has passed away.
Asha Bhosle began her career in the 1940s. She worked with legendary directors Bimal Roy and Raj Kapoor, as well as legendary music composers such as O.P. Nayyar, Sardar Malik, Sajjad Hussain, S. Mohinder, and A.R. Rahman. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, was one of the greatest singers of the 1940s and 50s. Hailing from the Mangeshkar family, Asha, much like her sister, possessed a melodious voice. Asha cast the magic of her voice upon Bollywood during the 1950s. However, she gained recognition by singing in several low-budget films before lending her voice to major motion pictures. She sang songs for the 1952 film *Sangdil*. This album, composed by Sajjad Hussain, brought Asha her first taste of fame.
Bimal Roy, a renowned director of that era, signed Asha Bhosle for his 1953 film *Parineeta*. Subsequently, Raj Kapoor offered her work in his 1954 film, *Boot Polish*. Asha collaborated with legendary music composer O.P. Nayyar on numerous songs between 1952 and 1956. However, it was with B.R. Chopra’s 1957 film, *Naya Daur*, that Asha Bhosle truly tasted the sweet success of stardom. The songs for this film were also composed by Nayyar.
Asha Carves a Unique Niche in Bollywood
The musical pairing of Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi was a massive hit during their era. Together, the duo lent their voices to iconic songs such as ‘Maang Ke Saath Tumhara’, ‘Saathi Haath Badhana’, and ‘Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri’. The magic created by Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics, combined with the vocal chemistry between Rafi and Asha, captivated audiences everywhere. She lent her voice to numerous films throughout the 1960s, including *Gumrah*, *Hamraaz*, and *Aadmi Aur Insaan*. In 1966, she collaborated with R.D. Burman to sing songs for the film *Teesri Manzil*—a collaboration that garnered immense acclaim.
This marked the beginning of an era where Asha Bhosle began singing Bollywood’s chart-topping dance numbers. Legend has it that when she first heard the composition for the song ‘Aaja Aaja’, she doubted her ability to sing to a Western musical tune. Burman offered to alter the melody, but Asha declined. Instead, she embraced it as a challenge and, after ten days of rigorous rehearsal, successfully recorded the track. To this day, the song remains on the lips of music lovers everywhere. Following ‘Aaja Aaja’, Asha delivered a string of sensational hits—such as ‘O Haseena Zulfon Wali’, ‘O Mere Sanam Re’, ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’, and ‘Yeh Mera Dil’—each of which became the life and soul of every party.
Ghazal Singing Earns Her a National Award
In 1981, Asha Bhosle ventured into the realm of Ghazal singing. She won the hearts of audiences with her soulful renditions of Ghazals in the film *Umrao Jaan*, including ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’, ‘In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke’, ‘Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston’, and ‘Justajoo Jiski Thi’. The film’s music director, Khayyam, skillfully guided Asha to modulate her voice to a lower pitch for these compositions. It was these very Ghazals that earned her her first National Award. Subsequently, she received her second National Award for the song ‘Mera Kuch Saaman’ from the film *Ijaazat*. In 1995, at the age of 62, Asha Bhosle lent her voice to actress Urmila Matondkar. She sang the songs ‘Tanha Tanha’ and ‘Rangeela Re’ for Urmila’s film *Rangeela*. In the 2000s, Asha Bhosle sang ‘Radha Kaise Na Jale’ from *Lagaan*, ‘Kambakht Ishq’ from *Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya*, and ‘Lucky Lips’ from *Lucky*. All of these songs went on to become superhits.
This Record Belongs to Asha
In 2013, Asha Bhosle made her acting debut. At the age of 79, Asha was seen in the film *Mai*, playing the role of a 65-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The character is abandoned by her children. Asha Bhosle received critical acclaim for her performance in the film. In May 2020, Asha launched her YouTube channel, titled “Asha Bhosle Official.” Throughout her career, Asha Bhosle has sung in 20 languages—including Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi—a feat that earned her a place in the *Guinness Book of World Records*.
In January 2025, Asha Bhosle was seen performing at a concert in Dubai. The 91-year-old Asha—affectionately known as “Asha Tai”—delivered a powerful and spirited performance. During the concert, she sang the hit track “Tauba Tauba” by Punjabi singer Karan Aujla. This song features in Vicky Kaushal’s film, *Bad Newz*. Emulating Vicky’s quirky dance moves, Asha Bhosle replicated his signature steps on stage, bringing the house down with her performance.
