Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12 in Mumbai at 92 after prolonged illness. She was hospitalised with cardiac and respiratory issues. Her final rites were held Monday at her Lower Parel residence, where the public paid last respects.
As condolences poured in from the film and music industry, Athiya Shetty faced criticism for a social media mistake. Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle’s elder sister and a legendary singer, had passed away on February 6, 2022.
Also Read | Asha Bhosle's last journey: Tricolour tribute, emotional scenes mark goodbye
The viral mistake
Athiya Shetty deleted the post soon after publishing it, but screenshots had already circulated widely. One user noted, "She deleted lmao i can't see it," while the deletion did little to contain the fallout. She subsequently shared a correct photograph of Asha Bhosle.
Another user remarked, "She definitely tried searching for an old picture to maintain the aesthetics instead she should have just uploaded a recent picture that doesn't confuse a lil brain."
Can someone tell Athiya that Lata ji died years ago and it’s her sister Asha who died today ? pic.twitter.com/zhBL7hKfxP
— Ana De Friesmass 2.0 (@ka_fries2366) April 12, 2026
Public reaction
Criticism on social media ranged from mockery to genuine disappointment. "She's never gonna live this down lmao. Her stupidity is now documented for years to come. Imagine having access to technology and still being an absolute i***t," one user wrote.
Another commented, "She should have kept it and uploaded a second story with Asha Bhosle's picture and be like two legendary sisters or something lol. Its not like Lata Mangeshkar is still alive."
Several users directed their frustration at the broader culture of celebrity tributes. One added, "Yaaarrrr..why do these d*b nepos even try. I mean nobody expects s*t from them. Why can't they just keep it cute. Keep it moving. And i mean she couldn't even type the write name in google."
Another simply wrote, "This is actually hilarious."
One user framed it in stronger terms, "Athiya Shetty is beauty without brains she posted a story with photo of Late Lata Mangeshkar instead of Late Asha Bhosle. Nepo kids just want to be relevant somehow, without hardwork or struggle and that's why their movies flop and they make such blunders."
More measured criticism also emerged. "It's really sad to see how careless people can be on serious matters... The least one can do is check before posting, especially in such moments. Just post a simple condolence message if your basic knowledge is zero," one user wrote.
Another added, "This is frankly pathetic. Just goes to show she doesn't care about her passing at all... it's disrespectful."
Asha Bhosle's legacy
Asha Bhosle's career spanned over eight decades. During which she recorded songs across multiple Indian languages. She received the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award seven times and won two National Film Awards: for Dil Cheez Kya Hai from Umrao Jaan and Mera Kuch Saamaan from Ijaazat.
In 2008. Even the Government of India honored her with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour in the country. She was also a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema.