Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle died at Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday (April 12, 2026). She was 92 years old. The singer had been admitted on Saturday, April 11, due to exhaustion and a chest infection. Hospital officials stated that the cause of death was multi-organ failure following a cardiac arrest.
Her son, Anand Bhosle, confirmed the news outside Breach Candy Hospital. “She passed away today,” he told reporters. He added that those who wish to pay their last respects may visit her residence at 11 am on Monday (April 13). The last rites will be performed at 4 pm at Shivaji Park. Doctors cited extreme exhaustion and a chest infection as the reasons for Asha Bhosle’s admission to the hospital on April 11.
Asha Bhosle, the playback singer who recorded songs in over ten Indian languages, began singing at the age of 10. Her first song was “Chala Chala Nav Bala” for the 1943 Marathi film Majha Bal. She entered Hindi cinema five years later with “Saawan Aaya” in Chunariya (1948). Her work in Naya Daur (1957), where she sang all the songs for the female lead Vyjayanthimala, brought her wider recognition.
With a career spanning over eight decades, Asha Bhosle was known for her versatility and has sung many memorable melodies, from romantic songs to ghazals to peppy numbers.
Among her most popular songs are ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’, ‘In Ankhon Ki Masti’, ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’, ‘Piya Tu Ab to Aaja’, ‘Duniya Mein Logon Ko’, and ‘Zaara Se Jhoom Loon Main’, among others.
Bhosle recorded over 12,000 songs in different Indian languages and has been the voice for many leading ladies, from Meena Kumari, Madhubala, and Zeenat Aman to Kajol, Urmila Matondkar as well as southern actors such as Padmini and Vyjayanthimala.
In 2023, she performed at a special concert, ASHA@90: Live in concert, in Dubai to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Early life
Born on September 8, 1935, in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, she was initiated into music by her father Dinanath Mangeshkar, just like her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar. Her other sister, Meena and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar are music composers. Married to Ganpatrao Bhosle in 1949 when she was 16, and later in life married collaborator and composer R.D. Burman, she is survived by her son Anand and her grandchildren. Of the four sisters, Lata, Usha, and Asha were playback singers while Meena is a music composer.
The much-awarded Asha, who was also a successful entrepreneur and ran the popular restaurant Asha in Dubai and the UK, won multiple awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke, Padma Vibhushan, National Awards, and other music honours.
Bhosle’s linguistic versatility saw her record songs in multiple Indian languages, including Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and more. This prolific output earned her a place in the Guinness World Records for the most studio recordings. Over her illustrious career, she was also honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Vibhushan.
Speaking about the former singer’s passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened, calling her one of India’s most iconic and versatile voices whose extraordinary musical journey enriched India’s cultural heritage and touched countless hearts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah described her death as a sorrowful day for the nation and music lovers, praising her ability to adapt to every genre and the melodies that won over every heart. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was a moment of grief for music enthusiasts across India and the world, highlighting her status as an exceptionally versatile artist.
AR Rahman paid tribute on social media, stating that she lives forever with her voice and aura and calling her an extraordinary artist whose influence transcends generations. Singer Harshdeep Kaur wrote that “The Voice of Love is no longer with us,” recalling how Bhosle’s aura and inspiration stayed with her and calling her an institution of music.
With inputs from agencies
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