Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle has passed away at the age of 92 after a prolonged illness, her family confirmed on Sunday.
According to her son Anand Bhosle, the veteran singer will be laid to rest tomorrow evening, as preparations for the funeral are underway.
Indian media reports said Asha Bhosle had been admitted to hospital after developing a severe chest infection. Doctors stated that she died due to multiple organ failure following a gradual deterioration in her health.
Her hospitalization was earlier confirmed by her granddaughter Zaina Bhosle in a post on social media platform X, in which she said the singer had been admitted due to extreme fatigue and a chest infection.
With her passing, one of the most influential voices in South Asian music has come to an end. Asha Bhosle’s career spanned over eight decades, during which she recorded songs in more than 20 languages, including film songs, ghazals, qawwalis and classical compositions.
She began her musical journey in 1943 at the age of just 10 and received early training in classical music from her father Dinanath Mangeshkar. Over the years, she became one of the most versatile playback singers in Indian cinema, delivering numerous hit songs in Bollywood.
In 2011, the Guinness World Records recognised her as the most recorded singer in music history. She was also honoured with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2008, India’s second-highest civilian award, along with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000.
Asha Bhosle’s contribution to music was widely acknowledged through multiple Filmfare Awards and several national and international honours, cementing her legacy as one of the most celebrated voices of her generation.