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Apr 12, 2026 4:34pm IST

RIP Asha Bhosle: Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Jr NTR, Chiranjeevi, Sanjay Dutt and Other Stars Pay Tribute to the Legend on Social Media

Asha Bhosle has died. The playback singer hailed as one of the most versatile voices to come out of India passed away at 92 due to multi-organ failure. She was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after a chest infection. The doctors were treating her for the infection and exhaustion. Asha Bhosle’s son Anand confirmed the news to the media along with Dr. Pratit Samdani who was the main physician and intensivist. The body will be kept at her Lower Parel residence at 11 am for people to pay their last respects. 

Her son Anand told the media that the cremation will take place at Shivaji Park at 4 pm. It will happen with full state honors. Today, India’s PM Narendra Modi expressed concern hoping for her speedy recovery. Her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle had also requested the media to avoid speculations. 

Akshay Kumar, Chiranjeevi, Jr. NTR, Mohan Babu, Sanjay Dutt, Madhur Bhandarkar, Hema Malini and a number of other celebs have posted their condolences on social media. Over the years, she established herself as one of the most celebrated singers for young and old listeners alike. 

Asha Bhosle had a prolific career in the industry with everyone recognizing Lata Mangeshkar and her as two greats. She began to sing at the age of nine. In her career, she won two National Awards one for "Umrao Jaan" (1981) and the other for "Ijaazat."

The end of an era 

Anu Malik told Variety India, "I am shattered on hearing this news, and saddened beyond words. She sang the  very first song of my life, “Zulm-o-situm par itraanewale” in “Hunterwali 77” (1978) where the rest of the songs were done by my father, the late Sardar Malik, with whom she was very close. I have spent a lot of my time at her home in Prabhu Kunj and had a great friendship with her son, Hemant, and daughter, Varsha. I called her my mother and she would repeatedly call me “An incredible talent”! I lost my mother in the year 2021, and now I feel I have lost my other mother. She was a great artiste with a heart of pure gold. She sang my earlier hit songs in films like “Ek Jaan Jai Hum”, “Sohni Mahiwal” and more all the way to “Baazigar”, “Filhaal” and “Begum Jaan.” The song she loved best and so did I was “Yeh Lamha” from “Filhaal”. Nothing was impossible for her: she could sing Rock, Pop, ghazal, Indian classical—anything! It is the truly the end of an era!”

An artist with a pure heart 

Lyricist Sameer Anjan told Variety India, "It’s a very sad day and my heart goes out to Anand and the family. Truly an era has ended and an institution has left us. God created her only to go on a musical mission to this world and that’s what she did—and for such a long phase! There is no song in the world that she could not sing, and when I heard her sing Bhojpuri songs, it was as if a woman from rural Uttar Pradesh was singing—she was so authentic. Unn mein kamaal ki kaabiliyat thi (She possessed incredible talent). The best part about her was her open nature. She was like an open book and whatever she felt, she expressed. There was no hidden agenda, there were no dirty politics. She called my father (lyricist Anjaan) ‘bhai’ (brother) and she was very motherly in her affection towards me. God has taken her away today, but her voice will always be with us for eternity. It is up to all the young singers to learn from her about both artistry and life.”

Babul Supriyo, Asha Bhosle, Sharmilee (Babul's daughter)

When Asha Bhosle urged Babul Supriyo to get a makeover 

Babul Supriyo tells Variety India, "I remember I did my first world tour concert with her in 1996. Her son had called me around eight months back for a show in Bhopal. She would call me occasionally just to chat up. Asha Ji had sung a ghazal, "Salona Sa Sajan Hai," directed by Ghulam Ali. She asked me to sing it for her on the phone. She also made some changes so it sounded better. Despite being a legend, she was a normal human being. She will always be a star. Artists like her do not die. When my mother passed away, she called me and said I could call her whenever I felt lonely or sad. I have seen her at close quarters as a mom, mother-in-law and grandmother and she excelled in every role. My chest swelled with pride whenever she said I sang in tune and my upbringing was good. I remember when I was with her on tour on the first time, I always wore formal complete with a blazer and tie. She rebuked me saying that I should not dress up in such an old-fashioned manner. She told me to go all out with casual shirts, denims and ripped denims. I remember the shopping spree I went on after her advice. As a singer, she did her riyaaz religiously and took good care of her throat. She would also say that Bengalis and Maharashtrians bond over spicy food. Asha Ji never went overboard with anything when it came to self-care. From her, I learnt how crucial it was to move on with the times. She was very progressive and always relevant. She is a star and will never die till good singing is appreciated in India." 

When Asha Bhosle inspired Shamir Tandon

Music composer Shamir Tandon told Variety India, "I have had the good fortune of working with her in the last 20 years. She is one of the reasons why I quit my corporate job of being head honcho, actually pursuing my passion of music. She played a very vital role in the conversion of shift from my being anaging director, to a music director. We started a song recently, and she promised to complete one of these days, but adhuraa reh gaya!"


 

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