Asha Bhosle Biography: Age, Birth, Early Life, Family, Education, Singing Career, Net Worth, Awards and Honours, and more (2023)

Asha Bhosle Biography: Veteran Singer Asha Bhosle shared a throwback pic on Instagram on 6 February 2022. She wrote "Bachpan ke din bhi kya din the. Didi and I (Those childhood days. Sister and I)". Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar died at the age of 92 on 6 February 2022 at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital after being admitted to its intensive care unit with COVID-19 symptoms.

Asha Bhosle was also trained by her father Deenanath Mangeshkar in classical music like her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar. She is an Indian playback singer and entrepreneur. She is known for her versatility as a singer. Her career started in about 1943 and has expanded over seven decades. She has done playback singing in over a thousand movies. Also, she has recorded various private albums and participated in several solo concerts in India and abroad.

Asha Bhosle Biography

Asha Bhosle Biography: Early Life, Family, and Education

Asha Bhosle was born on 8 September 1933 in Goar, Sangli, then in the salute princely state of Sangli (now in Maharashtra). Her father was Deenanath Mangeshkar who was Marathi and Konkani. Her mother was Shevanti (Gujarati). Asha Bhosle's father was an actor and classical singer on the Marathi Musical stage.

At nine years of age, her father died and so her family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Mumbai. To support the family, she and her elder sister Lata Ji started singing and doing acting in films. Her first film song was "Chala Chala Nav Bala" for the Marathi film Majha Bai (1943). The music was composed by Datta Davjekar. She sang a song for Hindi film Chunariya and the song was "Saawan Aaya" in 1948. This was the first Hindi film through which she made her debut. Her first solo Hindi film song was for the movie Raat Ki Raani in 1949. At the age of 16, she married a 31-year-old Ganpatrao Bhosle against her family's wishes.

The marriage failed miserably and she was driven out by Ganpatrao. She came to her maternal home with two children while pregnant with her third child. She continued to sing songs, earn money, and fulfill the responsibilities of her children. In 1980, she married Rahul Dev Burman. Asha Bhosle is an excellent cook and cooking is one of her favourite hobbies.

In one of the Interviews with the Times of India, when asked, what if her singing career had not taken off, she said "I would have become a cook. I would have cooked in four houses and made money."

Because of her love for cooking, she got into a successful restaurant business. She runs restaurants in Dubai and Kuwait known as Asha's. Others are in Abu Dhabi's Khaldiya Mall, Doha's Villagio, and Bahrain's City Center Mall, Cairo, Egypt.

She is not involved in the day-to-day running of the restaurant; it is looked at by the Wafi Group. She takes care of the kitchen and the decor. As per December 2004 report in Menu Magazine, Russell Scott, a former head of Harry Ramsden's, secured the UK rights to Asha's brand and planned to open up to 40 restaurants over the next five years.

Asha Bhosle Biography: Singing Career

She sang more songs than most playback singers in Hindi Films in the 1950s. Most of these were in low-budget B or C-grade films. She gained initial popularity with the songs she sang for the films Parineeta (1953), Boot Polish (1954), C.I.D (1956), and Naya Daur (1957).

The first success that she achieved was in B.R Chopra's Naya Daur. The duets that she sang in the film earned her recognition. This time, she sang all the songs for a film's leading actress and it is the first time she sang like this. Then, Chopra approached her for his later productions like Gumrah, Waqt, Admi Aur Insaan, and Dhund. Her collaboration with Nayyar's also resulted in success. Now, she established her status and also received the patronage of such composers, namely Sachin Dev Burman and Ravi.

She won popular acclaim when she sang duets from one of the music directors R.D Burman in 1966 for the movie Teesri Manzil. As per reports, when Asha Ji heard the dance number "Aaja Aaja" she thought that she would not be able to sing this Westernized tune. She took it as a challenge and rehearsed it for around 10 days and along with "Aaja Aaja" she sang songs like "O Haseena Zulfonwali" and "O Mere Sona Re" which became successful numbers and gained different recognition. Asha Ji's collaboration with R.D. Burmans gained several hits and also resulted in a marriage.

She was also the voice of Hindi films actress and dancer, Helen during the 1960s-70s. Some of the other famous numbers are "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" (Caravan) and "Yeh Mera Dil" (Don), among others.

By the 1980s, she was regarded for her abilities and versatility, and was also sometimes stereotyped as a "cabaret singer" and a pop crooner". Again she tried something different and in 1981, she attempted to sing various ghazals for the Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, including "Dil Cheez Kya Hai", "In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke", "Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston" and "Justuju Jiski Thi", etc.

She won her first National Film Award for the ghazals. A few years later, she won National Award for the song "Mera Kuchh Saamaan" from Ijaazat (1987).

Not only this, she sang for actress Urmila Matondkar in 1995 in the movie Rangeela. Songs sung by her are "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela Re". Various Asha Ji's numbers became chartbusters during the 2000s including "Radha Kaise Na Jale" from Lagaan (2001), "Kambakht Ishq" from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), "Yeh Lamha" from Filhaal (2002), and "Lucky Lips" from Lucky (2005).

In October 2004, a compilation of album songs The Very Best of Asha Bhosle, The Queen of Bollywood were recorded by Asha Ji for albums and Hindi language films that were released between 1966 and 2003.

She also judged Sur Kshetra in 2012. At the age of 79, she also debuted in the film Mai in the title role in 2013. In this film, she played the role of a 65-year-old mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and is abandoned by her children. Asha Ji also launched her YouTube channel named Asha Bhosle Official in May 2020.

Now, let us have a look at the partnership of Asha Bhosle with some music directors.

O.P Nayyar

It is said that he was the first composer who first gave Asha Bhosle her own identity. In 1952, Nayyar first met Asha Ji at the music recording of Chham Chhama Chham. For the film Mangu, he first called her and then gave her a break in C.I.D. The success of Naya Daur made the duo very popular at that time. Some of the songs of O.P Nayyar and Asha Bhosle are "Aaiye Meherbaan" picturized on Madhubala (Howrah Bridge, 1958) and "Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera", (Mere Sanam, 1965). "Aao Huzoor Tumko" (Kismat) and "Jaaiye Aap Kahan" (Mere Sanam), etc.

For several hit movies also, they recorded songs like Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Nayyar also used Mohammad Rafi and Asha Ji duets for his most popular duets like "Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri" (Naya Daur), "Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon" (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena), "Deewana Hua Baadal" and "Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein" (Kashmir Ki Kali). The last song of Asha Ji for O.P Nayyar was in the movie Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974). In 1972, they separated.

Ravi

Asha Ji was one of the favourite singers of Music composer Ravi. She sang for her first movie Vachan. We all remember the melodious lullaby from this movie "Chanda Mama Door Ke" which is an all-time favourite of children and this song became an overnight hit among young mothers in India. They both recorded several songs including a popular comic duet with Kishore Kumar's "C A T...Cat. Cat Maane Billi" (Dilli Ka Thug). She also sang bhajans for several movies. One of the bahjans namely "Tora Man Darpan" (Kaajal) attained great popularity.

For various popular movies also recorded songs namely Waqt, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Gumrah, Bahu Beti, China Town, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Dhund, Hamraaz, etc.

Sachin Dev Burman

He is one of the most famous composers of the Hindi film industry and his favourite singer was Lata Mangeshkar. But from 1957 to 1962, their terms were not good. So, during this period, S.D Burman made Asha Ji a leading female voice in several films and gave numerous hits in movies including Kaala Pani, Kaala Bazaar, Insaan Jaag Utha, Lajwanti, Sujata, and Teen Deviyaan (1965).

In fact, after 1962 also they recorded various songs together. The most famous song was "Ab Ke Baras" in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963). Aso the seductive song "Raat Akeli Hai" from Jewel Thief (1967), became very popular and was picturized on Tanuja.

Rahul Dev Burman

He is also known as Pancham. In Teesri Manzil, their partnership was noticed. Varieties of songs were recorded by Asha Ji with him including cabarets, rock, disco, ghazals, and classical.

Their partnership took Western songs in Hindi films in a new direction and a sort of storm arose in the 1970s. If you remember the raunchy cabaret "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" from Caravan and picturised on Helen Ji. Further, "Dum Maro Dum" (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971), the sexy "Duniya Mein" (Apna Desh, 1972), and the romantic "Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne" (Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973).

Burman Ji also recorded duet songs of Asha Ji and Kishore Kumar and some of the famous songs are "Jaane Jaan" (Jawani Diwani) and "Bhali Bhali Si Ek Soorat" (Buddha Mil Gaya). Burman and Asha Ji in the 1980s, recorded several songs and the popular duet "O Maria!" (Saagar).

Asha Ji married R.D Burman Ji in 1989 and their partnership lasted until his death. Burman Ji also made Asha Ji to sing some melodious Bengali songs like Mohuyae Jomechhe Aaj Mou Go", "Chokhe Chokhe Kotha Bolo", "Chokhhe Naame Brishti" (Bengali version of "Jaane Kya Baat Hai"), "Baanshi Sune Ki Ghore Thaka Jaye", "Sondhya Belae Tumi Aami" and "Aaj Gungun Gun Gunje Amar" (Bengali version of "Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai").

A. R. Rahman

Asha's comeback is credited to A.R Rahman with the song "Rangeela" (1994). Songs like "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela Re" were chartbusters. Various hits were recorded by the two including "Mujhe Rang De" (Thakshak), "Radha Kaise Na Jale" (Lagaan, duet with Udit Narayan), "Kahin Aag Lage" (Taal), "O Bhanware" (Daud, duet with K. J. Yesudas), "Venilla Venilla" (Iruvar, 1999), "September Madham" (Alaipayuthey, 2000) and "Dhuan Dhuan" (Meenaxi, 2004).

Shankar–Jaikishan

He also worked with Asha Ji but not as extensively as some other composers. For the "Parde Mein Rehne Do" song, she received the second Filmfare Award. She also sang the famous song "Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana" (Andaz, 1971) for Shankar–Jaikishan. He also used Asha Ji's voice in Boot Polish (1954), Shree 420 (1955), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Junglee (1961), An Evening in Paris (1968), and Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971), etc. Asha Ji also sang songs of Mera Naam Joker (1970).

Anu Malik

Asha Ji has recorded various hit songs with composer Anu Malik. Their famous songs are Ye Lamhaa Filhaal" (Filhaal) and "Kitabein Bahut Si" (Baazigar), etc. In the 1950s and 1960s, Asha Ji also sang for Anu malik's father Sardar Malik, and most notably in Saranga (1960).

Asha Bhosle Biography: Awards and Honours

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award

Special Award

1996 – Special Award (Rangeela, 1995)

Lifetime Achievement Award

2001 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

National Film Awards

IIFA Awards

Other awards

Honours and Recognition

Asha Bhosle Award

The award has been instituted in 2002, in recognition of Asha Ji's extraordinary talent and her services to the field of music. The first recipient of the award is Lata Mangeshkar.

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