Asha Bhosle
New Delhi: Music lovers across generations mourned the passing of iconic singer Asha Bhosle on Sunday, April, 12 describing it as the end of an era and recalling how her melodious, versatile voice captivated audiences for decades, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying her songs will forever resonate in people’s lives.
Glowing tributes poured in for ‘Asha tai’, as she was affectionately called, from political leaders, members of her film fraternity, sportspersons and people from all walks of life.
In his message on X, Modi said that Bhosle’s extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched Indian cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Asha Bhosle ji, one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known,” he said. Be it her soulful melodies or vibrant compositions, Bhosle’s voice carried timeless brilliance.
“I will forever cherish the memories of my conversations with her. My condolences to her family, fans and music lovers. She will continue to inspire generations and her songs will forever resonate in people’s lives,” Modi said.
The 92-year-old singer who ruled Bollywood for over seven decades with her wide range of memorable songs passed away on Sunday due to multi-organ failure at Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai.
She made her last public appearance at the wedding of Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, in Mumbai last month, where she was seen smiling and blessing the newlyweds.
The ceremony, held on March 5 at The St. Regis Mumbai, saw Bhosle dressed in a white saree with golden borders.
She posed for photographs at the venue’s entrance, complementing her look with minimal accessories and a flower clip, according to videos circulating online.
Through her voice, Asha Bhosle’s art will forever remain immortal among people, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said.
Members of the film industry recalled their association, with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan describing her voice as one of the pillars of Indian cinema.
“It’s truly sad to learn about Asha tai’s passing… her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come. A talent that will outlive many, she always showered me with blessings and love and I will miss her. Rest in Peace Asha tai… love you,” the superstar said
Actor Kajol, one of the many female stars for whom she lent her voice, recalled watching Asha Bhosle record a song when she was 19.
“Asha tai was, is and will always be a legend .. as a singer, as a persona and as a human being .. loved everything about her.. from her love of life, food and sense of humour and of course her first love .. her singing! “
Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini said she shared a deep emotional bond with Bhosle and found it hard to believe that someone so full of life was gone.
“She has made many of my songs so popular with her unique voice and style. I had a very special relationship with both Lata ji and Asha ji, who have contributed in no small measure to my rise in the film industry,” she wrote.
“It is a huge loss for Maharashtra and for the whole of India that can never be compensated or replaced ever,” she said.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said it is “a deeply sad day for India, and for music lovers across the world”.
“For us, Asha Tai was family. Today, words feel too small for the loss we feel. One moment, the heart falls silent, and the next, it drifts through the countless melodies she gifted all of us. It feels as though time itself has paused. Yet through her eternal songs, she will remain timeless forever.
“Thank you, Tai, for filling our lives with warmth, grace, and unforgettable music. We will miss you beyond words, Asha Tai.”
Asha Bhosle and Rahul Dev Burman’s love story began in a recording studio and was shaped not by words but by music, resulting in some of the most timeless songs Hindi cinema has ever known.
Through the 1970s, the two produced an astonishing body of work, churning out such hits like ‘Dum Maro Dum’ from ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ (1971), ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’ from ‘Caravan’ (1971), ‘Duniya Mein Logon Ko’ from ‘Apna Desh’ (1972), ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne’ from ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’ (1973).
The songs, which went on to become cultural milestones, had Burman mixing Latin beats, Western pop and jazz with Indian classical music, and Bhosle’s range brought all these styles together.
It all started in the mid 1950s.
Burman, the son of legendary composer Sachin Dev Burman, first met Bhosle as a teenager when he accompanied his father to a studio.
A bespectacled college boy, he was overwhelmed by the playback singer and asked her for an autograph.
“He’d come to see his father record ‘Chaahe tum kitna bhulao’ for ‘Armaan’ at the Famous studio in Mahalaxmi. He was a thin, pale boy in white, wearing thick glasses. Since he was short, he looked younger than his age. The boy asked me for an autograph and said he’d heard my Marathi natya sangeet on the radio,” Bhosle told The Quint in 2022 about Burman, who was six years younger than her.
Their professional partnership began years later when they collaborated for Vijay Anand’s musical thriller ‘Teesri Manzil’ (1966), starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh.
‘Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera’ announced both of them to a new India.
The song marked the breakthrough for Burman as an independent composer and the beginning of a creative union that would redefine Hindi film music.
Subsequent years saw their relationship deepen into something more personal. Both had come from unhappy first marriages.
Bhosle had walked out of an abusive relationship with Ganpatrao Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar’s former secretary, whom she had eloped with at the age of just 16.
Burman had separated from his first wife, Rita Patel, in 1971. They found in each other’s company a solace that went beyond the studio.
Many media reports have stated that Burman proposed to Bhosle on multiple occasions but she refused, scarred by the memories of her first marriage. He nonetheless persisted.
Asked how he finally managed to convince her, Bhosle said, “He’d say, ‘Asha, only you understood. You can never go off-key even if you try to.’ I felt flattered, but I didn’t want to make the mistake of marrying again. He was after me for years to get married. After much persuasion, he convinced me that he’d fallen in love with my voice. It fascinated him. So finally I said, ‘Okay.'”
Her family, including elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, was aware of the growing closeness between the two, and Burman was reportedly so respectful of the relationship that when the marriage did finally happen, he told Mangeshkar that he wanted no expensive gift, only a letter of advice on how to make his married life beautiful.
The road to marriage was not without resistance as Burman’s mother was bitterly opposed to the union because of their age gap.
Burman, who was fondly called Pancham Da, went ahead regardless. He married Bhosle in an intimate ceremony in 1980.
“Music was the basic foundation of our marriage: We could listen to Bismillah Khan, the Beatles, Shirley Bassey… and so many more for hours and hours. Pancham would emerge from his shower, in a lungi kurta, at 9.30 am and till 3 pm, we’d be humming together to the albums of John Coltrane, Earth Wind and Fire, Sergio Mendes, Santana, the Rolling Stones, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chuck Correa, Osibisa… Oh, so many. Our taste for music was eclectic, and that was our everlasting bond,” Bhosle said.
The marriage coincided with Burman’s creative peak but also, gradually, with his professional decline.
As Hindi film music shifted in the 1980s, Pancham Da — who had once set the template for the contemporary — found himself overshadowed by newer names, while also battling alcoholism and deteriorating health.
In the 1980s, they continued to collaborate, producing some of their most nuanced and emotionally layered work together.
They worked on Gulzar’s ‘Ijaazat’ (1987), which featured many acclaimed songs such as ‘Katra Katra’ and ‘Mera Kuch Saaman’, the latter earning Bhosle her second National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Burman died on January 4, 1994, of a heart attack. He was 54.
In interviews over the years, Asha Bhosle often spoke about her relationship with Burman and their marriage.
In a conversation with RJ Anmol and Amrita Rao last year, she said, “He didn’t even know that he was such a big music director. He made music, but he had no ego about it.”
Did she believe that there could ever be another RD Burman?
Bhosle told The Quint that he would have liked A R Rahman.
“He believed that a young composer who brings a new sound to music would become big. I think he would have liked AR Rahman… and there’s Vidyasagar, whose compositions for the Tamil film Chandramukhi had an element of freshness.
“But seriously, no one can ever cover Bollywood beats, jazz, rock, pop, semi-classical, the way Pancham did. For another RD Burman, he would have to be reborn,” she said.
(With inputs from PTI.)
This post was last modified on April 12, 2026 7:17 pm