Asha Bhosle was one of Indian cinema’s most versatile and enduring voices. Born in 1933, she emerged from the illustrious Mangeshkar family yet forged a distinct identity with her bold, expressive singing. From cabaret hits with R. D. Burman to soulful ghazals and classical pieces, her range remained unmatched. With a career spanning over seven decades and thousands of songs in multiple languages, she constantly reinvented herself.
Honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Vibhushan, Bhosle’s passing in 2026 marks the end of an era in Indian music.
Presenting reactions from celebrities offering glimpses of the musical icon.
“It’s a very sad day in the history of Bollywood music.. end of an era.. never seen a more vivacious artist than her with a never say die spirit! Extremely versatile artist. Be it classical.. natya sangeet or emotional numbers or RD Burman’s trendy songs, she was unbeatable! May she attain sadgati.”
Anuradha Paudwal, singer
Anu Malik, music composer
“An era has passed away. She has lived an era. She was like an institution for our generation. Her versatility was legendary. She sang in so many languages and genres. She was always like a mother to me. She didn’t have a dual nature. What you saw was what you got. My first song for her was in a film called Ab Ayega Mazaa. She sang it with Kishore Kumar. She had a long association with my father Anjaan as well. They used to chat for hours at the recordings. Sometimes, she used to travel in his car till Bandra after the recording and they used to converse non-stop. My thoughts are with her family. May her soul rest in peace.”
Samir, lyricist
“Today we lost a voice that shaped generations. I grew up listening to Ashaji and a part of me will always sing because of her. Artistes like Ashaji will never leave us. Her music will always be a guiding light. My prayers for her soul.”
Shilpa Rao, singer
“A very sad day for all of us. A very sad day for Indian music. I’ve not been able to express my sorrow, as a musician, as her worshipper, as a close family friend. I looked up to her like she was Maa Saraswati. I’m sure every Indian today is just heartbroken. She and her music will never disappear from the face of the earth till human beings exist. She’s going to be there forever with her amazing voice resounding all over the planet.
Shankar Maddevan, singer and composer.”
“I’ve had the fortune to work with her on a song called Aasmaa, from Saandh Ki Aankh (2019), written by me and composed by Vishal Mishra. I was present at the recording, which was at Yash Raj. She had come straight from Dubai and was running a fever. She told us she has taken an injection. We told her we could postpone the recording but she didn’t listen. She wrote the lyrics in her handwriting and asked me the meaning of certain words and the thoughts behind them. She took a little time to get the rhythm right but when she found it, what came out was pure magic. I called my father afterwards, who is a big fan, and he was so happy. I’ve always found her voice to be a celebration of everything that makes us human. That’s why it goes straight to the heart.”
Raj Shekhar, Lyricist
Also Read: Asha Bhosle: I wanted to touch Kishore Kumar’s feet – Exclusive
