Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian playback singer whose voice defined generations of Bollywood music, has died at the age of 92 in Mumbai, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across India and beyond.
Bhosle was admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday (11 April) evening due to a chest infection and exhaustion, according to her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle.
Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed her death to local media, adding that her funeral will be held in Mumbai on Monday.
Renowned for her versatility and an enduring career spanning more than eight decades, Bhosle recorded thousands of songs in multiple languages, including Hindi and Marathi, and became one of the most recognisable voices in Indian cinema.
She gained international recognition through collaborations with global artists, including British musician Boy George, further cementing her status as a cultural icon beyond South Asia.
Tributes poured in from across the arts and entertainment world following news of her death.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to her legacy, saying her “extraordinary musical journey… enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world”.
“Be it her soulful melodies or vibrant compositions, her voice carried timeless brilliance,” he wrote in a message on X.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan described her voice as “one of the pillars of Indian cinema” that “will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come”.
Actor Hema Malini said Bhosle, who brought “vivacity and character” to her songs, had left the industry grieving.
Over the course of her career, Bhosle received numerous honours, including nominations for two Grammy Awards, as well as India’s highest cinematic honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award.
Born into a musical family, she was the younger sister of the equally celebrated singer Lata Mangeshkar.
While Mangeshkar became known for her classical and devotional style, Bhosle carved out her own identity with a bold, dynamic repertoire that ranged from romantic ballads to cabaret numbers and experimental compositions.
Her ability to adapt across genres, from traditional film songs to pop-infused tracks, made her a favourite among composers and audiences alike, and ensured her relevance across changing eras of Indian cinema.
At least 250 people have died and more than 570 have been injured after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, the Colombian As...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean forces on its territory and has received...
The Democratic Republic of Congo says the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to nearly 4,500, including more than 2,060 deaths. Delayed detecti...
One hundred years after the First World War and more than eighty years after the devastation of the Second World War gave rise to the United Nations, humanity once again finds itself living in an age of permanent crisis.
Flights arriving at Catania airport in eastern Sicily were suspended after volcanic ash from a new eruption of Mount Etna drifted into the airspace around the airport, disrupting operations at one of Italy’s busiest aviation hubs.
Greenland has issued a “strong warning” to a U.S. oil company linked to President Donald Trump after drilling equipment was brought ashore without the required government approvals, according to British media.
Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has surpassed $1.1 billion at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of the director’s career.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has surpassed $1.1 billion at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of the director’s career.
Several Taylor Swift songs have disappeared from social media videos posted by U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign and the White House, after the best-selling pop star's music featured in two separate clips over the past week.
Ariana Grande says she will step back from public-facing work after her Eternal Sunshine Tour ends next month, marking a temporary pause in one of pop culture's most visible and closely scrutinised careers.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed $927 million worldwide during its opening weekend, delivering the second-biggest global and domestic box office debut of all time behind Avengers: Endgame.
Tens of thousands of dancers filled the streets of La Paz on Saturday for Bolivia's annual Gran Poder festival, one of the country's largest cultural celebrations, after the event was postponed twice due to social unrest and road blockades.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment