Asha Bhosle dies at 92, leaving behind a defining voice of Bollywood

Asha Bhosle, one of the most enduring and versatile voices in Indian cinema, has died in Mumbai at the age of 92, her family confirmed.

The two-time Grammy nominee passed away on Sunday at Breach Candy Hospital, where she had been admitted for “extreme exhaustion” and a chest infection.

“My mother passed away today. Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,” her son Anand Bhosle told reporters.

Over a career that stretched across seven decades, Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages, becoming a defining voice of Bollywood, particularly through the 1970s and 80s.

India’s leadership responded quickly to the news. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened”, while President Droupadi Murmu called her death “an irreparable loss to music lovers”.

Born on September 8, 1933, into a musical family, Bhosle began singing as a child alongside her sister Lata Mangeshkar after their father’s death. While Mangeshkar became known as “India’s nightingale”, Bhosle built a career defined by range and adaptability, moving across genres from pop to folk and beyond.

Her early life included periods of personal hardship, including a turbulent marriage at 16, but her professional trajectory steadily expanded. She went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated singers, earning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and two Grammy nominations.

Even later in life, she continued to collaborate internationally, including a recent appearance on a project by the British virtual band Gorillaz.

Tributes from across the music and film industries reflected her wide influence. Composer A. R. Rahman wrote:

“She lives forever with her voice and aura … What an artist.”

Singer Shankar Mahadevan described the moment as “a very sad day” for India’s music scene, adding:

“Every Indian is heartbroken today. Her music will never perish as long as humanity exists.”

Actor and politician Hema Malini also paid tribute, noting her personal connection to Bhosle’s work and calling her voice “unique”.

Beyond music, Bhosle pursued her passion for food, launching the “Asha’s” restaurant chain in Dubai and the United Kingdom.