Ashalata Ganpat Bhosale (born Ashalata Dinanath Mangeshkar; 8 September 1933 – 12 April 2026) was an Indian playback singer, businesswoman, actress and television personality who worked primarily in Indian cinema. She was described in media sources as a highly versatile singer in Hindi film music. Over a career spanning several decades, she recorded songs for films and albums in multiple Indian languages and received several awards, including two National Film Awards, four BFJA Awards, eighteen Maharashtra State Film Awards, nine Filmfare Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award and seven awards for Best Female Playback Singer), as well as two Grammy nominations. She was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. In 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records listed her as one of the most recorded music artists in history. Bhosale was born in Goar in Sangli (then part of the princely state of Sangli, now in Maharashtra) into a musical family as the daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar and his wife Shevanti. After her father’s death when she was nine, the family relocated several times before settling in Mumbai. She and her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar began singing and acting to support the family. She made her first film recording with the Marathi song "Chala Chala Nav Bala" for the film "Majha Bal" (1943). She later made her Hindi playback debut with "Saawan Aaya" for "Chunariya" (1948), and sang multiple songs in both "Chunariya" and "Andhon Ki Duniya" the same year. Her first solo Hindi film song was for "Raat Ki Rani" (1949). She also sang in Assamese cinema, including "Pokhiraj Ghora" for "Sikimik Bijuli" (1969), alongside Kishore Kumar and Bhupen Hazarika. She stated that she considered herself an “accident singer” and credited her musical training to listening to her father and sister. She continued daily practice throughout her life. Her siblings included Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Mangeshkar, both singers, as well as Meena Mangeshkar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar, who worked as music directors. From the early 1950s, Bhosale sang in a large number of Hindi films, often in lower-budget productions before gaining wider recognition. Early compositions included work with composers such as A. R. Qureshi, Sajjad Hussain, S. Mohinder, Sardar Malik and Ghulam Mohammed. Her performance in "Sangdil" (1952) brought her wider attention, and she sang most songs for the film "Chham Chhama Chham" (1952) under O. P. Nayyar. She later worked with directors including Bimal Roy for "Parineeta" (1953) and Raj Kapoor for "Boot Polish" (1954). Her collaborations with O. P. Nayyar continued through the 1950s, including work in "Naya Daur" (1957), where duets such as "Maang Ke Saath Tumhara", "Saathi Haath Badhana" and "Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri" gained attention. She later worked with composers including Sachin Dev Burman and Ravi, and collaborated with B. R. Chopra on films such as "Dhool Ka Phool", "Waqt" (1965), "Hamraaz" (1967), "Aadmi Aur Insaan" (1969) and "Dhund" (1973). In the 1960s, her work with R. D. Burman included songs from "Teesri Manzil" (1966), such as "Aaja Aaja", "O Haseena Zulfonwali" and "O Mere Sona Re". She also became associated with performances for actress Helen in several films, including "Caravan" (1971) with "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" and "Don" (1978) with "Yeh Mera Dil". She and R. D. Burman later married after a long professional collaboration. In 1981, she sang ghazals for "Umrao Jaan", including "Dil Cheez Kya Hai", "In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke", "Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston" and "Justju Jiski Thi", and received her first National Film Award. She received another National Film Award for "Mera Kuchh Saamaan" from "Ijaazat" (1987). In 1995, she sang for the film "Rangeela", including "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela Re", composed by A. R. Rahman. Her later work included songs such as "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). A compilation album titled "The Very Best of Asha Bhosle, The Queen of Bollywood" was released in 2004. In 2012, she served as a judge on "Sur Kshetra". In 2013, she made her acting debut in the film "Mai", playing a lead role as an elderly mother affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and received generally positive reviews. In 2020, she launched a YouTube channel titled "Asha Bhosle Official". In interviews in 2023, she discussed her efforts to develop a distinct musical identity and described a deepening emotional connection to music over time. In April 2026, she was hospitalized in Mumbai due to exhaustion and a pulmonary chest infection and died on 12 April 2026 at the age of 92 from multiple organ failure. Following her death, condolences were issued by political leaders including the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as well as figures from the Indian film industry such as A. R. Rahman and Akshay Kumar. Her final rites were scheduled to be performed with state honours at Shivaji Park. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha_Bhosle