Asha Bhosle Passes Away at 92: A Look Back At Legendary Singer’s Extraordinary Career

April 12 was indeed a dull day for music lovers worldwide. Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away at 92 in Mumbai. She was the voice behind 1970s and 80s Bollywood music. Her sad demise sparked a wave of mourning across the entertainment and music fraternity. As per reports, the two-time Grammy nominee breathed her last on Sunday at the Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, where she had been admitted for extreme exhaustion and a chest infection. 

Her son Anand Bhosle stated, “My mother passed away today. Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.” The legendary singer recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven-decade career. Take a closer look at her career trajectory.

Asha Bhosle Breathes Her Last at 92

Born on September 8, 1933, Asha Bhosle hailed from a musical family. She kick-started her career in music as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father’s death. For the unversed, Lata Mangeshkar, who is renowned as the Nightingale of India, passed away in 2022. Asha Bhosle carved her own path to success by embracing genres from pop to folk. 

The singer stood out in all glory as one of Indian cinema’s most versatile and celebrated voices. She was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and earned two Grammy nominations. Moreover, she collaborated with global artists, including a recent feature on British virtual band Gorillaz’s album The Mountain (Parvat). Her talents became more familiar to Western audiences through Bow Down Mister, her 1991 collaboration with Boy George, and through Cornershop’s 1997 tribute, Brimful of Asha. Asha Ji boldly embraced cabaret and western-influenced melodies. 

The 92-year-old singer’s son, Anand Bhosle, said that the last rites will be held on Monday. “People can pay their last respects to her at 11 am on Monday at Casa Grande, Lower Parel, where she lived. Her last rites will be performed at 4 pm at Shivaji Park. News of her sad demise prompted tributes and fond memories from politicians, artists, actors, and sports stars. Be it Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, composer and producer AR Rahman, or Home Minister Amit Shah, tributes poured in on social media.