Bollywood icon Asha Bhosle dies at 92
The beloved actress, known for her versatile repertoire and high-energy singing, gained global acclaim and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
MUMBAI — Indian actress and singer Asha Bhosle, known for her versatile repertoire and high-energy singing in countless Bollywood movies, has died at the age of 92 in Mumbai, drawing widespread tributes.
Bhosle, who was the younger sister of singer Lata Mangeshkar, died on Sunday, April 12, following a hospitalization. She had been moved to a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday due to a chest infection and exhaustion, her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, said earlier.
Bhosle's funeral was held at the Shivaji Park Crematorium in Mumbai on Monday, per the ANI news agency. The actress's son, Anand Bhosle, performed her last rites.
Famous for generations throughout India, Bhosle also gained global acclaim and collaborated with international artists, including '80s pop icon Boy George.
"Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world," said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Over the course of her career, Bhosle was nominated for two Grammy Awards and landed the Dadasaheb Phalke award, India's top arts accolade, and also the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honor.
"Be it her soulful melodies or vibrant compositions, her voice carried timeless brilliance," Modi said in a message on X of Bhosle, whose career spanned eight decades.
Bhosle began her career at the age of 10 singing in the Western Indian language of Marathi and went on to be recognized as the most recorded artist by the Guinness World Records in 2011, with approximately 11,000 songs.
"Asha ji, who touched millions of hearts with her voice, left an indelible mark not just in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, and many other languages, but also in folk songs," India's Home Minister Amit Shah said.
Some of Bhosle's most popular songs range from a Bollywood cabaret number titled "Piya Tu Ab To Aja," which translates roughly to "Come to Me, My Love" to more soulful melodies like "In Ankhon Ki Masti Ke," meaning "The Mischief in My Eyes."
She partnered with Boy George in 1991 for a track titled "Bow Down Mister."
"Her extraordinary ability to adapt to every genre of music won over every heart," Shah said in a post on X.
Indian actors pay tribute to 'pillar' Asha Bhosle
"Her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come," Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan wrote on X.
Her talent "will outlive many," Khan added.
"She who lent so much vivacity and character to her songs has left us grieving," said actress Hema Malini on X. "It is a huge loss for Maharashtra and for the whole of India that can never be compensated or replaced ever!"