Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday, April 12, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where she was admitted the previous day. Medical staff confirmed that the cause of death was multi-organ failure, following a period of declining health.
Her funeral took place the following day, Monday, April 13, at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Mumbai's Dadar neighbourhood, where she received full state honours. Her body was draped in Tricolour prior to cremation, as per the protocol accorded to the ceremony.
A gathering of luminaries
The film and music industries turned out in significant numbers to honour Bhosle. As per the report of Hindustan Times, among those present at the crematorium were actors Aamir Khan and Vicky Kaushal.
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Earlier, at her Parel residence, prominent figures, including music composer AR Rahman, actors Ranveer Singh, Jackie Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh, Renuka Shahane, Rakesh Roshan, and veteran artists Helen, Poonam Dhillon, and Meenakshi Sheshadri gathered to pay their respects. On Sunday, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actress Shabana Azmi, Urmila Matondkar, and Vidya Balan also visited the family home.
Family bids farewell
Bhosle's granddaughter Zanai Bhosle broke down during the last rites and subsequently shared tributes on social media. Alongside a throwback photograph with her grandmother, she wrote, "Goodbye my love, love of my life."
She also posted a separate image of Asha Bhosle's body draped in the national flag, reflecting the state honours extended to the singer.
She also shared a post with her grandmother, Asha Bhosle, on Instagram and added a caption, “As I wake up this morning, I realise I have lost my partner in crime, my best friend, a person who completed my entire world and the first person to hold me when I was born. What do I do now? Who am I supposed to wake up and give a hug to in the morning and have chai with?
Who's going to be waiting for me everyday when I come home, or who am I supposed to crack lame jokes with? These are just a few things to remember her by, but to all those who have felt this loss with me, remember that she was and is the definition of LIFE and LAUGHTER, so if you have to remember her, only remember her that way!!...”
She's further added, “…I love you ashaai, and goodbye for now, my love. I know you are always going to be with me, no matter what, just waiting for you to come back to me and hug me once again…”
Words of comfort from followers
Comments on Zanai Bhosle's Instagram post reflected an outpouring of public sympathy. One follower wrote that Asha Bhosle, She will always live within you," while another offered, "Sending you lots of love & strength" to the grieving granddaughter.
A third commenter echoed the sentiment, noting that "legends like Asha ji they never go, they come here to live forever thru the legacy they left behind," adding that 'she is with u always." A fourth simply wrote, "Your caption diii stay strong!!"
A legacy to remember
In a written note accompanying her posts, Zanai Bhosle expressed gratitude to all who paid their respects, stating that her grandmother "deserved every bit of it" and that "she has seen it all from above". She added that Bhosle "lives on in every one of us in our hearts forever".
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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.
She was also a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.
