Asha Bhosle, the Indian singer whose voice defined Bollywood cinema and whose career spanned almost eight decades, has died in Mumbai at the age of 92. The two-time Grammy nominee recorded more than 12,000 songs and was her country's pre-eminent exponent of playback singing, recording tracks that were lip-synced on film by actors.
Bhosle's family said she died on Sunday after being admitted to hospital for extreme exhaustion and a chest infection. Her death prompted tributes from politicians, artists and sports stars, including India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, who said her extraordinary musical journey enriched India's cultural heritage.
Born on 8 September 1933 to a musical family, Bhosle's elder sister was Lata Mangeshkar, revered as 'India's nightingale'. While often compared to Mangeshkar, Bhosle walked her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk. Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16.
Bhosle's talents became familiar to Western audiences through a 1991 collaboration with Boy George and Cornershop's 1997 tribute, 'Brimful of Asha'. She also featured on the Gorillaz album 'The Mountain', released in February. Beyond music, she launched the Asha's restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2016, Bhosle said she had lived a tough but rewarding life. 'I have faced life upfront, taken the blows head-on, never turned my back, and I am proud of all that I've achieved,' she said. 'Music has given me great solace in my times of hardship.'
