The passing of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle on April 12 at the age of 92 marks the end of an era in Indian music. Tributes have poured in from across the industry, but among the most heartfelt is that of singer Shaan, who shared intimate memories of his conversations and bond with the icon.

For Shaan, his connection with Asha Bhosle was not defined merely by professional admiration, but by personal warmth and unexpected moments. He has been a part of multiple shows and performed with her on stage for decades.

“I've had the privilege and the good fortune of having a lot of conversations with Asha ji on the phone,” he recalled. “Mostly I would never know how to reach out to her. So she would call… whenever she would call, we would get to speak.”

One such memory remains etched vividly in his mind, a late-night call that came without warning. “It was quite late that night, around 11 or 11:30, and suddenly I see her name flashing on my phone,” he said.

True to her personality, Asha Ji skipped pleasantries. “She was always very straight to the point… she said, ‘Accha sun, Tera beta gaane laga hai main sunn rahi hoon. Log keh rahe hain ki theek thaak hi gaata hai woah. Yaad hai, humne jab show kiya tha tab tere god mein tha woh.’ So, I told her that was my older boy. That show was in 2004 when we had performed in London together. Soham was crying and she said, ‘Isko godi mein le le’ and I held him up. And that time she announced on stage, ‘Yeh jo baccha dekh rahe ho aap, iske Dadaji, (my father) ke saath maine perform kiya tha. Aaj bete ke saath perform kar rahi hoon aur jab yeh baccha bada ho jayega, main iske saath bhi perform karoongi!’”

And that is what she reminded me again. “She said, ‘Ab toh tera beta bada ho gaya hai, bula usko ghar pe, kuch gaana kartein hain uske saath!’ I was absolutely stunned. The fact that she remembered all this and actually said that about my son. I told my son Mahi. And he was absolutely elated. He took her blessings.”

Despite the emotional weight of that invitation, Shaan admits he never followed up. “I didn’t know how to really go about doing that,” he said. “Whenever she would call, we would speak… but I rarely reached out to her. I guess its my personality that I never reached out to her.” That hesitation now lingers as a quiet regret. “And now, I guess I never will,” he said.

Beyond memories, Shaan emphasized the profound influence Asha Bhosle had on his life and career. “I have always mentioned this-Asha ji’s aashirwaad and fondness for my voice will remain my greatest take back from my singing career,” he said. “No other achievement or compliment can match up.” He described her as a towering inspiration. “She is my greatest inspiration to work hard and focus on what is in one’s control.”

As the industry reflects on her unparalleled contribution, Shaan echoed a sentiment shared by many: that Asha Bhosle’s legacy is simply beyond comparison. “Her body of work is unparalleled… she has set the bar so high that it’s impossible for anyone to match up,” he said. Yet, even in her absence, her influence remains indelible. “She will continue to inspire and give us hope that if we work hard, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

As they celebrate their 25th Karwa Chauth together, singer Shaan and his wife, Radhika, shoot exclusively for HT City, as they tell Soumya Vajpayee how the day reiterates the value of love and companionship

For singer Shaan and his wife, entrepreneur Radhika Mukerji, this Karwa Chauth is extremely special. Why? “It’s our 25th Karwa Chauth together”, says Shaan, as he and Radhika shoot for HT City to mark their landmark “day of love”. For Radhika, this day holds a lot of value. “It’s the only day of the year when I dress up like a bride. I enjoy doing all the shringaar, doing the pooja, reciting the katha and praying for my husband. Our love for each other has only grown over the years and this day definitely plays a role in keeping us grounded,” she says.

For Shaan, too, Karwa Chauth holds a lot of value: “Initially, after our marriage, I would find it very filmi. Being a Bengali, we never had the culture of celebrating Karwa Chauth at home. But over the years, this day has meant so much for us. It reiterates that there’s someone in your life who’s doing something as intense as fasting to pray for your well-being. Irrespective of whether I am at home or travelling for shows, I try my best to keep my wife company by not eating anything. But I do have water or coffee.”

Radhika adds, “I just have a glass of masala milk in the morning for sargi and then go waterless until moonrise. For me, it’s a day of gratitude, when I thank God for blessing me with a life partner like Shaan. While I fast for him, he gets so anxious by the evening that he keeps tracking the moonrise and has a childlike excitement the moment he spots the moon. When we do the puja, our sons act as our photographers. I love the looking at the moon through the channi and then looking at your partner ritual. There’s something so romantic about it.”

As Shaan hums the romantic number Tere Mere Sapne from Guide (1965) for Radhika, we ask if he has any Karwa Chauth gift planned for his wife. “I don’t really wait for occasions to pamper her, but I would love to gift her whatever she wishes for,” he replies, as Radhika immediately adds, “I want a chaandi ki payal from you.”

“It was our first Karwa Chauth after marriage and Radhika excitedly fasted for me. After breaking the fast, she threw up. I thought it was due to hyperacidity,” says Shaan. Radhika recalls, “I threw up a couple of times and a friend suggested I took a pregnancy test. I tested positive when I checked the next morning, and by next Karwa Chauth, we had our son Soham with us.” Hence, our first Karwa Chauth after marriage continues to be our most memorable one.”

He is just two songs old, but the internet has already taken notice of singer Shaan’s son Maahi and it’s not just for his singing. And the 19-year-old, who has the songs Sorry and Jaadugari to his credit, feels flattered.

“Any comparison to dad is huge since he is such an accomplished man. My priority at this moment is to do my riyaz, make more music and deliver on people’s expectations,” says Maahi, who wants to make his own mark, not only as a musician, but on the screen, too.

“It will probably be music videos for now but I’d also love an opportunity on the big screen. It’s on the cards. I have [done] a couple of acting workshops, getting my chops in place,” he says.

Insta Reels and memes featuring the father-son duo, with their near-identical voice texture as well as youthful charm, often send social media users on a nostalgia trip. But the singer doesn’t feel the pressure of Shaan’s legacy.

“A lot of people tell me that I have big shoes to fill, and my go-to response is, ‘I don’t — because the shoes are already filled with his feet.’ I am wearing my own shoes,” says Maahi, though he’s grateful for one thing: “My daadu (composer Manas Mukherjee) was in the industry but dad lost him pretty early on, so I don’t know how the good times and the bad times will affect me but I know I have my father.”

This is Bollywood singer Shaan Mukherji’s first time at Cannes, and what makes it more exciting is that he is at the festival with his son, Maahi.

Talking to us from the French Riviera, the musician said, “I am so glad to be a part of the film festival this year. This is my first time here, so I’m very curious and extremely excited.”

At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the proud father introduced his son, singer Maahi, who performed on stage on May 16 and is all set for another performance on May 17.

The prestigious festival that began on May 14 will go on till May 25, 2024.

“I am introducing three new pop stars at Cannes this year, one of them is my son. Maahi has already released his first song and is about to release his second, which has been produced by my other son, Soham. I feel so proud of them. This special performance of Maahi at Cannes gives me a great opportunity to witness this wonderful festival, which I have never seen before,” said Shaan.

The singer, who was also accompanied by his wife Radhika, added, “We are spending quality time here as a family.”

Shaan elated to spend time in the French city said, “Being here with my sons and my wife Radhika is great. We are really looking forward to the whole experience of the red carpet here and the performances and the whole festival. I am hoping to catch some films too!”

Singer Shaan has been a part of the Indian music industry for over two decades. In February this year, his younger son, Maahi, decided to follow in his footsteps. The 18-year-old released his first single, Sorry. The song struck a chord with the audience and Shaan is a proud father.

“Maahi is only 18, but he has been preparing for this for so many years. It’s his dream to be a pop star and we have been harnessing it together for the last three-four years. Every day he would sing something, show me a dance step. He has also been going to the gym and doing his classical music,” says Shaan.

The 51-year-old goes on to rave about his older son, Soham: “Even my older boy has his own band and they’ve already had 18 releases. Both my sons have their own different styles, even different from what I do.”

Shaan adds, “As parents, you want to guide them, but also not spoon-feed. I don’t ask Maahi to come with me or perform at my shows. He should have his own identity, his own vocal style, personality and his own journey.”

Mention that Maahi reminds of the charm Shaan possesses, and he disagrees. He quips, “At 18, I was crap. I was terrible, but Maahi is fantastic.” He credits it all to Maahi’s dedication. “A lot of people say that this new generation wants to get things smart, but they don’t work hard. I have a fantastic example of just the opposite,” Shaan signs off.

For singer Shaan, his song Tanha Dil has come “full circle” — as he wrote in a recent tweet — with his elder son Soham Mukherjee going to the US for higher studies. However, instead of sulking about missing his son, Shaan is being practical.

“I am relieved that he has settled quickly in the US. He has good roommates and is enjoying his course. Pehle he used to call twice in a day, ab din mein ek baar ho gaya hai. I hope it doesn’t turn into once a week,” quips Shaan.

On a serious note, the 48-year-old shares, “We know he has a crazy rush in the morning there. He even told us not to expect him to call in the morning. And once a day is good.”

In fact, taking him to the US was also an adventure, with the family choosing to reach the country via Serbia, instead of Mexico or Russia. “He had already studied online for a year, and we had enough time to plan. We were sure ki kuchh na kuchh karke wahan pahunchna hai. So, we found a way and didn’t wait or take any chances where laws might change. I missed out on a few assignments but the point was that this time won’t come back for him,” says the singer, whose son also produces music along with his band.

While the uncertainties due to the Coronavirus scare continue, the Chaar Kadam (PK; 2014) singer is in no mood to let it dictate his life. “I’m not at all anxious about Soham being in the USA. I know he is in a protected environment, with his college just across the street. And at some point, you have to get independent. We have to live with this pandemic. We can’t postpone life,” says the father of two, stressing on the need to make the most of today.

“Kisi cheez ka bharosa nahin hai. Kal ke liye aaj bachake rakhein, aur pata chale kal dekh hi nahin payein. So, live the moment and make happy memories,” he concludes.