KATHMANDU: Asha Bhosle (née Mangeshkar), born on September 8, 1933, in Goar, Sangli, Maharashtra, was one of India’s most versatile and prolific playback singers.

With a career spanning over 83 years (1943–2026), she recorded more than 12,000 songs in 20+ languages, excelling in cabaret, pop, ghazals, classical, and folk.

Sister of Lata Mangeshkar, she collaborated with icons like O.P. Nayyar, R.D. Burman (her second husband), S.D. Burman, and A.R. Rahman. Her legacy includes two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer (plus Lifetime and Special), the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Vibhushan, and Grammy nominations.

She passed away on April 12, 2026, at age 92 in Mumbai, ending a monumental era in Indian music.

September 8, 1933: Born as Asha Mangeshkar in Goar, Sangli, to classical singer Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar and Shevanti.

April 24, 1942: Her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, passes away in Pune; the family moves to Mumbai to survive.

January 15, 1943: Records her first professional song, “Chala Chala Nav Bala,” for the Marathi film Majha Bal.

May 10, 1948: Makes her Hindi film debut with “Saawan Aaya” in the film Chunariya.

December 20, 1948: Elopes and marries Ganpatrao Bhosle, the 31-year-old secretary of her sister Lata, against her family’s wishes.

Asha bhosle at recording with Kunal singh (File photo)

August 12, 1949: Records her first solo Hindi song for the film Raat Ki Rani.

October 7, 1950: Birth of her first son, Hemant Bhosle.

May 14, 1952: Gains critical notice for her work in the film Sangdil under composer Sajjad Hussain.

November 17, 1953: Records “Nanhe Munne Bachche” for Boot Polish, a song that becomes a national childhood anthem.

February 5, 1954: Birth of her daughter, Varsha Bhosle.

September 22, 1955: Collaborates with composer Ravi for the hit “Chanda Mama Door Ke” in Vachan.
May 17, 1956: Birth of her second son, Anand Bhosle.

August 15, 1957: Naya Daur is released; her duets with Mohammad Rafi (“Maang Ke Saath Tumhara”) establish her as a top-tier lead singer.

December 20, 1957: Releases “Aaiye Meherban” in Howrah Bridge, defining her “sultry” vocal persona.

Legendary singer Ms. Asha Bhosle tying ?Rakhi? to the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, at Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh on August 18, 2016. File photo

April 11, 1958: Collaborates with S.D. Burman for Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, recording “Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka.”

March 10, 1960: Formally separates from her husband, Ganpatrao Bhosle; returns to her mother’s home with her three children.

August 5, 1960: Records the classic “Jab Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya” (as a chorus lead/support) for Mughal-e-Azam.

January 20, 1961: Records “Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar” with Mohammad Rafi for Hum Dono.

November 10, 1963: Records the haunting “Pani Pani Re” for the film Mujhe Jeene Do.

July 2, 1965: Releases “Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera” for Mere Sanam, a peak collaboration with O.P. Nayyar.

Renowned playback singer Asha Bhosle accompanied by Shri Parimal Nathwani, Member of Parliament, calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on August 11, 2014. file photo

October 15, 1966: The soundtrack of Teesri Manzil is released; her work with R.D. Burman on “Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera” revolutionizes Indian rock/pop.

November 3, 1966: Records “Jhumka Gira Re” for Mera Saaya, which becomes one of the best-selling folk-pop songs of the decade.

April 20, 1967: Wins her first Filmfare Award for “Garibon Ki Suno” from Das Lakh.

September 8, 1967: Celebrates her 34th birthday by recording songs for An Evening in Paris.

March 12, 1968: Records “Parde Mein Rehne Do” for Shikar.

May 5, 1969: Wins her second Filmfare Award for “Parde Mein Rehne Do.”

August 22, 1970: Records “Gunaahon Ka Devta” title track.

January 1, 1971: Records “Dum Maro Dum” for Hare Rama Hare Krishna; the song becomes a counter-culture anthem.

June 15, 1971: Records “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana” for the film Andaz.

March 26, 1972: Wins her third Filmfare Award for “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” from Caravan.

May 12, 1972: Wins her first Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

August 5, 1972: After a legendary professional and personal partnership, she officially stops working with composer O.P. Nayyar.

November 30, 1972: Records “Chura Liya Hai Tumne” for Yaadon Ki Baaraat.

April 14, 1973: Wins her fourth Filmfare Award for “Dum Maro Dum.”

October 20, 1973: Records “Hone Lagi Hai Raat” for the film Naina.

April 10, 1974: Wins her fifth Filmfare Award for “Hone Lagi Hai Raat.”

October 2, 1974: Records her final song with O.P. Nayyar, “Chain Se Humko Kabhi,” for Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye.

Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Noor Jehan.File photo

April 18, 1975: Wins her sixth Filmfare Award for “Chain Se Humko Kabhi.”

August 15, 1975: Sholay is released; she performs the iconic “Yeh Dosti” (female version) and cabaret “Mehbooba Mehbooba” (backing).

October 10, 1977: Records the hit duet “Sara Pyaar Tumhara” for Anand Ashram.

May 12, 1978: Don is released; her song “Yeh Mera Dil” becomes a massive disco hit.

April 25, 1979: Wins her seventh Filmfare Award for “Yeh Mera Dil” from Don.

May 1, 1979: Formally requests Filmfare to stop considering her for nominations to promote new talent.

July 7, 1980: Marries composer Rahul Dev (R.D.) Burman in a private ceremony.

September 3, 1981: Umrao Jaan is released; her shift to low-register ghazals (“Dil Cheez Kya Hai”) stuns critics.

April 27, 1982: Wins her first National Film Award for Umrao Jaan.

June 12, 1983: Records the heartbreaking “Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le” for Sadma.

October 16, 1987: Ijaazat is released, featuring “Mera Kuchh Saamaan.”

September 8, 1987: Releases the collaborative album Dil Padosi Hai with R.D. Burman and Gulzar.

April 15, 1988: Wins her second National Film Award for “Mera Kuchh Saamaan.”

January 4, 1994: Her husband, R.D. Burman, passes away, leading to a brief period of semi-retirement.

September 8, 1995: Rangeela is released; her comeback with A.R. Rahman (“Tanha Tanha”) proves her voice is timeless.

February 25, 1996: Receives the Filmfare Special Award for her work in Rangeela.

July 10, 1997: Becomes the first Indian singer to be nominated for a Grammy Award for the album Legacy.

October 20, 1997: Receives the “Nightingale of Asia” award in Tashkent.

January 1, 1998: Named “Singer of the Millennium” in Dubai.

November 14, 1999: Awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Maharashtra Government.

March 20, 2000: Receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor in cinema.

February 17, 2001: Receives the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

May 21, 2001: Releases the album Aap Ki Asha, launched by cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

June 15, 2002: Wins the IIFA Award for “Radha Kaise Na Jale” from Lagaan.

October 1, 2002: Opens her first restaurant, “Asha’s,” in Dubai, launching a successful global chain.

February 8, 2006: Receives her second Grammy nomination for You’ve Stolen My Heart.

May 5, 2008: Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, by President Pratibha Patil.

October 20, 2011: Officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist in music history.

September 8, 2012: On her 79th birthday, she announces her acting debut.

October 8, 2012: Tragedy strikes as her daughter, Varsha Bhosle, passes away.

February 1, 2013: Her debut acting film, Mai, is released to positive reviews.

September 28, 2015: Her eldest son, Hemant Bhosle, passes away in Scotland.

January 1, 2018: Receives the Yash Chopra Memorial Award.

Mandar-agashe-asha-bhosle-april-2016. File photo

February 6, 2022: Her elder sister, the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, passes away.

September 8, 2023: Celebrates her 90th birthday with a grand live concert in Dubai titled “Asha@90.”

December 15, 2024: Performs her final large-scale public concert in Mumbai.

January 10, 2025: Publishes her official autobiography, Asha: Memories in Melody.

September 8, 2025: Celebrates her 92nd birthday privately with family in Lonavala.

March 15, 2026: Hospitalized in Mumbai due to age-related respiratory complications.

April 12, 2026: Asha Bhosle passes away at 9:30 AM in Mumbai, aged 92.