kathamandu । Asha Bhosle, the iconic star of the Indian music industry and a voice that defined generations, has passed away at the age of 92. She breathed her last on Sunday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Following complications related to cardiac and respiratory issues, she was admitted to the hospital on Saturday. As her condition became critical, she was shifted to the ICU on ventilator support, where her son, Anand Bhosle, later confirmed the news of her demise.
Born in 1933 into the illustrious Mangeshkar family in Sangli, Maharashtra, Asha began her musical journey at the tender age of nine. After the untimely passing of her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, she took up professional singing to support her family. Since recording her first movie song in 1943, she spanned an extraordinary career of nearly eight decades, delivering thousands of immortal tracks. Alongside her late elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, she ruled the world of Indian playback singing for decades.
While initially recognized for her ‘cabaret’ and upbeat dance numbers, Asha later demonstrated incredible versatility, expanding her repertoire into various genres. Her soulful ghazals in films like Umrao Jaan remain timeless masterpieces for music lovers worldwide. Beyond Hindi cinema, she also lent her voice to numerous Nepali songs, earning her a special place in the hearts of listeners in Nepal.
In recognition of her magical voice, she won the ‘Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer’ award seven times and received two National Film Awards for songs like Dil Cheez Kya Hai and Mera Kuch Samaan. She also holds a historic place in the Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist in music history.
Behind her professional triumphs, her personal life was marked by significant struggle. After marrying at the age of 16 against her family’s wishes, she faced domestic hardships and eventually separated in 1960, raising her three children as a single mother. She later married the legendary composer R.D. Burman in 1980. Coming just a few years after the passing of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha’s departure marks the end of a magnificent chapter in music. Her final rites will be performed in Mumbai on Monday.
