Asha Bhosle with a young A R Rahman

Beginning her musical journey at the tender age of 10, Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle has built an illustrious career spanning over eight decades. A force to reckon with, she is celebrated for her immense talent, versatility, and, above all, her remarkable ability to adapt and evolve with the times. A Guinness World Record holder for being the most recorded artist in music history, Asha Bhosle's enduring legacy is not just rooted in her distinct voice or range—but in the indomitable spirit that continues to define her and her longevity. As she turns 92, she opens her heart, reminiscing about a legendary journey and the timeless landmarks along the way in a heartfelt exclusive with Bombay Times.

I am 92-years-old and I take this opportunity to thank all my well-wishers who have supported me in my long journey. Had it not been for your love, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Every time I hear your applause, it pushes me to go further and test uncharted territories in this vast ocean of music and art. Quite contrary to my public image, I am reclusive at heart. I am shy to discuss my achievements because I have so much more to learn in so little time.

Prior to the advent of cinema (silent cinema then talkies), the only public entertainment platform was theatre. My wonderful actor, singer, composer and writer father, Master Dinanath Mangeshkar owned his own travelling theatre company. I, along with my four siblings (Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar) travelled with the theatre company all over India where my father performed these grand musicals to a rapt audience. Therefore, I grew up in an atmosphere of music and the performing arts. It was great that Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundation of cinema in India but as cinema rose to prominence over the years, our theatre company sadly folded. Soon after, my father passed away in 1942 at the height of The Quit India Movement.

In 1943, World War II was raging in Europe and that’s when I recorded my first Marathi song at the age of 10. Around this time the Battle for Stalingrad in Russia was in full swing. My first record label read ‘British India’. World War Two era was one of rationing and hardships and we often slept on empty stomachs. I remember attending a political rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai where I first saw Mahatma Gandhi and I was very impressed by his speech and other leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Abdul Ghaffar Khan. The partition of India in 1947 was a painful experience for many Indians, but we managed to live through that as well.

When I moved to Mumbai, (then Bombay), the British had left it in pristine shape. It was a grand city, and I was in awe of it. I loved travelling on trams, trains and buses hopping from one studio to the next. Working in the emerging music industry (termed Bollywood today) was full of new experiences. As people heard me sing, more work came my way. Sometimes I recorded as many as 7 songs a day. Years later, I was informed that I had got a mention in the Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist (around 11,000 songs). Honestly, I did not work to break any records.

Music evolves every decade or so. According to me, the first music composer who brought a new exciting western sound to Hindi cinema was C Ramchandra. He experimented with Rock and Roll and took a leaf out from Bill Haley and Elvis Presley’s style of music. Suddenly, that was a rage, and I adapted to this western style to keep up with the times. Then came OP Nayyar with his rustic Punjab folk music sound which went through the roof. I adapted to this style as well and remained relevant. Post O P Nayyar, came the finest musical genius of our times; my late husband Rahul Dev Burman (a prince by birth from the royal family of Tripura, but an Emperor by his deeds). RDB’s revolutionary style of compositions, sound, technique are admired even today. R D Burman passed away in 1994 and a year later in 1995, another musical genius A R Rahman unleashed a fresh new brilliant sound on an unsuspecting audience through Rangeela. When I sang Rangeela Re and Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena for him, I was 62 years old! I thank ARR for bringing the best out of an elderly person.

I take this opportunity to remember the wonderful singers that I have worked with…my older sister Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi, Shri Kishore Kumar, Shri Manna Dey, Shri Mukesh, Shri Hemant Kumar, Smt Geeta Dutt, Smt Shamshad Begum and the list goes on. I shared a great rapport with them, not only as colleagues but also as close friends. I recall one common factor between all these great artists - they were all simple human beings without a nasty bone in their system. Unfortunately, most of my close friends and colleagues have passed away and I mourn their loss, a void that can never be filled. On this note, I recall Rafi Saab’s famous song; composed by the late Sachin Dev Burman and penned by the late Kaifi Azmi Sahab…Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari, Bichhde Sabhi Bari Bari…!

Since my name is Asha (hope), I would like to conclude by saying, I am not done yet. On 12th Sep ‘25, a song sung by me with a very popular British Band shall be launched. I am happy to say that whenever musical boundaries were being broken, I remained the common thread for experimentation by all these great composers of extraordinary calibre. I’m proud to see the growth of my granddaughter Zanai, who is a music composer, writer, singer, classical dancer and an actor. As Mr. AR Rahman recently remarked; that my family (Mangeshkar / Bhosle / Burman) has done nothing but music for 4 generations. He went on to add that this family knows nothing other than music. I take that as a compliment.

What strikes you the most about Lata Mangeshkar, 87, is her soft demeanour coupled with her ability to speak her mind without mincing words. The nightingale of India breaks into a childlike giggle when you ask her if she is bombarded with song requests from family and friends even today. The singing doyen was 12 when her father, Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, passed away in 1942, but his values and principles have left a deep impact on her. On the occasion of her father's 75th death anniversary yesterday, the Bharat Ratna awardee talked to BT about his teachings and why she isn't keen on playback singing anymore. Excerpts..

You seem to have taken a backseat from music. It's been long since we heard you sing for films...
I sing even today, it's just that I don't sing for films. I prefer devotional songs. Today's Bollywood music doesn't suit my singing. People like it and I don't want to comment on it or criticise it, but I don't think I'd be able to do justice to it. However, I ensure that I do my riyaaz often if not every day.

We've heard that before singing in a particular language, you'd learn it to get your pronunciation right.
That kind of dedication is rare today...Other than Marathi, which is my mother tongue and Hindi, I have sung in various languages, especially Bengali. It's important to study the language to do justice to the lyrics. You have to know their meaning, which actor is singing it on screen and the situation of the song. I've even learnt Urdu to get my pronunciation right.

Do your friends and family come up to you with song requests at home?
(Laughs wholeheartedly) No, that doesn't happen in my house as all five of us siblings (Lata, Asha, Hridaynath, Usha and Meena) are singers.

It's been 75 years since your father, renowned theatre actor and classical vocalist Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, passed away. You were very young at that time. Any memories of him that have stayed with you?
He used to tell me, 'Ya kopryath jo sadhu baslela aahe, mhanje Tambura ­ tyala kadhi visru nakos. Tyavar kadhi dhul padu deo nakos.' (He referred to the musical instrument Tambura as a saint and asked us never to forget him.) I want to pass on the message that he gave us - to learn classical sangeet. Every singer should know at least the basics of classical music as it always helps. Every year on his death anniversary, we honour talented artistes from different walks of life with the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award. We hope to take our father's legacy forward.

Your duets with legends like Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and Mohammed Rafi are timeless. With whom did you enjoy singing the most?
I liked singing with everyone - Mukesh bhaiya, Rafi saab and Talat Mahmood - but I enjoyed singing with Kishoreda the most.



Which of your songs do you like listening to the most?
I like Chala Vahi Des - Meera's bhajans composed by my brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Lag Jaa Gale (Woh Kaun Thi? 1964).

Who, according to you, enacted your songs really well onscreen?
Actresses like Sadhana, Meena Kumari, Nargis, Madhubala and Kajol, took the effort to understand the song and act accordingly. Jaya Bachchan observed me well and got my mannerisms right ­ starting with how I stand, how I sing and how I drape my sari. In Abhimaan (1973), she even chose to wear white saris like me. It was commendable.

Among the current singers, who are your favourites?
I like Sonu Nigam, Javed Ali, Shaan, KK and Shankar Mahadevan. Among female singers, there is Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Chithra and Alka (Yagnik), though she doesn't sing much these days.

Any favourites as far as Western music is concerned?
I like symphonies. Nat King Cole was one of my favourite singers. I liked The Beatles too. I don't know much about today's singers.

You were heartbroken by the recent demise of one of India's finest classical vocalists, Kishori Amonkar...
Kishori's death has left a huge void in the Hindustani classical music arena. It's a massive loss. She was a brilliant singer, a doyen of the Jaipur gharana.

Not many know that you like to cook...
(Laughs!) I enjoy cooking. I can say with confidence that no one can make gajar ka halwa the way I do.

You've been honoured with almost every award in the country. Do awards still excite you?
Whether it is the Bharat Ratna or any other award, they all make me equally happy, as those who honour me do it with a lot of love and respect.

What's your take on comedians mimicking your style?
I haven't seen it so far. Mimicry karayla harkat nahi pan ti barobarch aste asa mala vatat nahi. (There is no harm in mimicking me, but I don't think that imitation is always right). It's common for people to mimic renowned personalities. When it comes to mimicry, no one is spared. If leaders like Narendra Modi ji are imitated, then who are we? I just feel that those who indulge in it should first take a close look at themselves and do it with some dignity.