Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle has passed away at the age of 92, bringing to a close a remarkable chapter in the history of Bollywood music.
Indian media reports that her son confirmed her death in Mumbai, where she had been admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Over a career that stretched for more than eight decades, she recorded over 12,000 songs and became one of the most familiar and celebrated voices in Indian cinema.
Her long list of memorable songs includes Dum Maro Dum, Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Mehndi Hai Rachnewali. She also lent her voice to popular films such as Teesri Manzil, Caravan, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Ijaazat, Saagar and Umrao Jaan, among many others.
Her talent earned her global appreciation as well. International audiences paid tribute to her through the song Brimful of Asha, and she worked with well-known artists including Boy George.
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Born in Maharashtra in 1933 into the famous Mangeshkar family, she showed her musical talent from an early age and recorded her first song in 1943. By the 1950s and 1960s, she had become one of the leading voices in Hindi cinema, working closely with music directors such as OP Nayyar and RD Burman, with whom she shared a long and successful creative partnership.
She was also the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, another giant of Indian music. Although the two were often compared, Asha Bhosle carved out her own place in the industry with her energetic and versatile singing style.
Even in her later years, she remained active in music, performing on stage, collaborating with artists from around the world and staying connected with her fans. She often described music as the heart of her life.
Over the years, she received many honours and awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and a Guinness World Record for being the most recorded artist in music history.