The Indian singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music through the 1970s and 80s, has died aged 92, her family said.
The two-time Grammy nominee had been admitted to hospital in Mumbai with complaints of “extreme exhaustion” and chest infection.
“My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,” her son Anand Bhosle told reporters.
Bhosle’s voice resonated across a film-obsessed India for nearly eight decades, recorded on about 12,000 songs. She boldly embraced cabaret and western-influenced melodies to forge a distinctive musical identity.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, said he was “deeply saddened” by her death.
“Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,” he said.
“She will continue to inspire generations and her songs will forever echo in people’s lives.”
Born on 8 September 1933 to a musical family, all her four siblings became accomplished singers and musicians. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, a was singer revered as the “India’s nightingale”.
But while often compared to Mangeshkar, who died in 2022, Bhosle walked her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk.
Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16.
She became one of Indian cinema’s most versatile and celebrated voices, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2001 and two Grammy nominations.
Bhosle continued collaborating with global artists well into her later years, including a recent feature on the British virtual band Gorillaz’s album, The Mountain (“Parvat”).
Beyond music, she nurtured her passion for food, launching her Asha’s restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to his report.
