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Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle

Playback singer known for her versatility across eight decades

8 September 1933 – 12 April 2026 India Verified by our editors
Lived
92 yrs
1933 – 2026
Works listed
6
Song
Honours
4
Most recent 2008
Profile views
3
0 followers

Asha Bhosle is one of the most prolific and versatile singers in Indian film history, recording thousands of songs in many languages since the 1940s. Equally at home with cabaret numbers, ghazals and pop, she received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Vibhushan.

Biography

Early years

Asha is the daughter of classical singer and stage actor Deenanath Mangeshkar and the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar. After her father’s death in 1942 the sisters sang in films to support the family; Asha recorded her first film song in 1943, when she was about ten.

Finding her voice

For years she sang songs that other leading singers turned down, but composer O. P. Nayyar built a distinctive sound around her in the 1950s, in films such as Naya Daur (1957), Howrah Bridge and Kashmir Ki Kali. Her range grew from playful duets to sultry cabaret numbers such as “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” (1971).

With R. D. Burman

Her partnership with composer R. D. Burman, whom she married in 1980, produced innovative hits including “Dum Maro Dum”, “Chura Liya Hai” and “Duniya Mein Logon Ko”. At the same time she showed depth in ghazals for Umrao Jaan (1981) and in “Mera Kuchh Saamaan” from Ijaazat (1987), both of which won her National Film Awards.

Later career and honours

In the 1990s she found a new audience with A. R. Rahman’s Rangeela and with pop albums, and she has collaborated with international artists. In 2011 Guinness World Records recognised her as the most recorded artist in music history. She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, and runs a chain of restaurants named Asha’s.

Timeline

  1. 1933

    Born in Sangli, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra)

  2. 1943

    First film song

  3. 1957

    Naya Daur with O. P. Nayyar

  4. 1971

    “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” and “Dum Maro Dum”

  5. 1980

    Marries R. D. Burman

  6. 1981

    National Film Award for Umrao Jaan

  7. 1987

    National Film Award for Ijaazat

  8. 2000

    Dadasaheb Phalke Award

  9. 2008

    Padma Vibhushan

  10. 2011

    Guinness World Record

  11. 2026

    Died, aged 92

Notable works

  • 1958

    Aaiye Meherbaan (Howrah Bridge) Song

  • 1971

    Piya Tu Ab To Aaja Song

  • 1971

    Dum Maro Dum Song

  • 1981

    Dil Cheez Kya Hai Song

  • 1987

    Mera Kuchh Saamaan Song

  • 1995

    Tanha Tanha (Rangeela) Song

Awards and honours

  • National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer

    1981 · Umrao Jaan.

  • National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer

    1987 · Ijaazat.

  • Dadasaheb Phalke Award

    2000

  • Padma Vibhushan

    2008

Did you know?

  1. 1

    She recorded her first film song at about the age of ten.

  2. 2

    Guinness World Records named her the most recorded artist in music history.

  3. 3

    She runs restaurants called Asha’s in the Middle East and the UK.

Connections

Frequently asked

Who is Asha Bhosle?

Asha Bhosle is one of the most prolific and versatile singers in Indian film history, recording thousands of songs in many languages since the 1940s. Equally at home with cabaret numbers, ghazals and pop, she received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Vibhushan.

When did Asha Bhosle die?

Asha Bhosle died on 12 April 2026 at the age of 92.

Where is Asha Bhosle from?

Asha Bhosle was born in Sangli, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra).

What is Asha Bhosle known for?

Asha Bhosle is best known for Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Dum Maro Dum, Chura Liya Hai, Dil Cheez Kya Hai, Mera Kuchh Saamaan.

What awards has Asha Bhosle received?

Notable honours include National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1981), National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1987), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2008).

Who is Asha Bhosle married to?

Spouse: R. D. Burman (m. 1980; died 1994).

References

  1. Asha Bhosle — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  2. Asha Bhosle — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  3. Asha Bhosle — Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  4. Asha Bhosle — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  5. Official website. ashabhosle.com. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
  6. Asha Bhosle (Q38393) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.

Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Asha Bhosle”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more

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“Asha Bhosle.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/asha-bhosle

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