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Indian singer Asha Bhosle, known for her unique voice that shaped Bollywood music for more than seventy years, died on April 12 in Mumbai due to a chest infection. She was 92 years old.
Asha Manjrekar was born on September 8, 1933, in Sangli, Maharashtra. She was the daughter of classical singer and actor Dinanath Mangeshkar. After her father's death, the family moved to Bombay where Asha began singing professionally as a teenager, adopting the surname of her first husband, Ganpatrao Bhosle, whom she married at age 16.
Her artistic career launched in 1948, and she succeeded in establishing a distinctive artistic identity despite her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar being one of the most famous voices in Indian cinema history. Asha Bhosle was known for her daring versatility in performing various musical styles such as cabaret, western pop, romantic songs, classical, bhangra, and folk, which gave her artistic flexibility spanning multiple generations.
During her collaboration with composer Rahul Dev Burman, whom she married in 1980, some of the most iconic Bollywood songs were produced, including "Dum Maro Dum," "Piya To Ab To Aaja," "Chura Liya Hai Tumne," and "Mera Kuch Samaan." This collaboration is regarded as one of the most successful creative partnerships in Indian music.
Asha Bhosle's fame extended beyond India, working with Western artists such as Boy George in 1991 and Michael Stipe of R.E.M. in 2002. She also participated in global music projects and her recordings were reused in international artistic works.
Throughout her career, Asha Bhosle received numerous awards and honors, including the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer twice, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and the Padma Vibhushan medal. She is also listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most recorded artist in music history.
Asha Bhosle continued singing and recording songs well beyond the age of eighty. Additionally, she founded a chain of restaurants bearing her name, starting in Dubai in 2002.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Asha Bhosle's passing on his X platform account, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of one of India's most versatile and iconic voices. He noted that her musical legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
This news was re-edited based on a report published by variety.com, maintaining the core facts reported in the source.