Indian film industry mourns Asha Bhosle's death: 'Her voice lives on'
Mumbai (PTI): Tributes poured in from across the film industry for legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away at the age of 92 following multi-organ failure at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday.
Celebrities, including veteran actor-politician Hema Malini, Oscar winner A R Rahman, superstar Akshay Kumar, filmmaker Karan Johar, actors JR NTR and Vicky, paid homage to the late singer on social media.
Malini said she shared a deep emotional bond with Bhosle and found it hard to believe that someone so full of life was gone.
"She has made many of my songs so popular with her unique voice and style. I had a very special relationship with both Lata ji and Asha ji, who have contributed in no small measure to my rise in the film industry," she wrote.
"It is a huge loss for Maharashtra and for the whole of India that can never be compensated or replaced ever," she added.
Rahman shared a photo with Bhosle on Instagram and posted, "She lives forever with her voice and aura ..What an artist @asha.bhosle."
Kumar posted, "No words can convey the loss I feel at Asha Bhosle ji’s demise. Unki surily awaaz hamesha hamesha ke liye amar rahegi (Her melodious voice will remain immortal forever). Om Shanti."
Describing her death as a "loss of a legend", Johar said Bhosle's voice was unlike any other.
"A voice that defined not only one generation but across a span of cinematic universe. Your music will live on forever and we are blessed to experience the magic you have left behind," he said.
Actor Kajol, one of the many female stars for whom the legendary singer lent her voice, recalled watching Asha Bhosle record a song when she was 19.
"Ashatai was, is and will always be a legend .. as a singer , as a persona and as a human being .. loved everything about her.. from her love of life, food and sense of humour and off course her first love .. her singing!
"I remember going for one of her recordings for a song that never released . I was 19 and she was amazing! What she made out of that simple melody was like watching a film.. I told her then that if I could bring one tenth of what she gave the song I would be a great actor .. the only word that comes to mind to describe her is Magnificent . Now and forever! RIP @asha.bhosle .. u will forever be Ashatai to us," she wrote on Instagram.
Telugu star Jr NTR said her magical voice was the heartbeat of Indian cinema for decades.
"She leaves behind a legacy that will live on for generations and will always be remembered with respect and love. My deepest condolences to her family," he said.
Actor Vicky Kaushal wrote: "Your melodies, your kindness, your grace and warmth will live on forever."
Actor Manoj Bajpayee said he grew up listening to Asha ji like so many others.
"Her voice inspired me and awed me in equal measure. There was something magical about it, the way it could hold so many emotions at once with such ease. As an actor, I have always admired how effortlessly she could bring a song to life. Her music is timeless and will continue to stay with all of us. An irreplaceable legacy," he wrote.
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar shared a photo of Bhosle and wrote, "Unforgettable... Asha ji."
With a career spanning over eight decades, Asha Bhosle was known for her versatility and has sung many memorable melodies, from romantic songs to ghazals to peppy numbers. Among her most popular songs are 'Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar', 'In Ankhon Ki Masti', 'Dil Cheez Kya Hai', 'Piya Tu Ab to Aaja', 'Duniya Mein Logon Ko', and 'Zaara Se Jhoom Loon Main'.
Bhosle, the younger sister of the legendary singer late Lata Mangeshkar, is survived by her son Anand Bhosle and granddaughter Zanai Bhosle.
Her last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, on Monday.
Asha Tai no more! I just can’t believe how some one so full of life, she who lent so much vivacity and character to her songs has left us grieving🙏 It is especially hard for me as I have an emotional connect with Asha ji - she has made many of my songs so popular with her unique… pic.twitter.com/Q73VorrtVd
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 12, 2026
Deeply saddened by the news of Asha Bhosle ji’s passing. Her magical voice was the heartbeat of Indian cinema for decades and touched millions of hearts. She leaves behind a legacy that will live on for generations and will always be remembered with respect and love. My deepest… pic.twitter.com/U81F2NBBeD
— Jr NTR (@tarak9999) April 12, 2026
No words can convey the loss I feel at Asha Bhosle ji’s demise. Unki surily awaaz hamesha hamesha ke liye amar rahegi. Om Shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GNEl7QFt8M
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 12, 2026
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Two injuries, one DNF, a DQ as India end messy World Relays campaign
Gaborone (Botswana) (PTI): Amoj Jacob and Ragul Kumar got injured during the men's 4x400m and 4x100 races respectively as India ended their World Athletics Relays campaign in disappointment on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.
The Indian camp had high hopes of making the 2027 World Championships in the men's 4x400m relay but the team did not finish (DNF) the race as Jacob suffered cramps and pulled out of the race after taking the baton from the first leg runner Dharamveer Choudhary. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were to run in the third and fourth legs.
Those teams which could not qualify for the 2027 Beijing World Championships by reaching the final round of each of the six relay events on Saturday were given another chance in the second qualification round on Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the two heats (in all six relay events) booked the Beijing ticket on Sunday.
India will now have to try and qualify for the World Championships through the Top Lists of the World Athletics, which is a long and tedious process.
In the men's 4x100m race, third leg runner Ragul Kumar fell down the track after failing to hand over the baton inside the exchange zone to fourth leg runner Gurindervir Singh, which clearly showed the lack of coordination among the runners.
Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur ran the first two legs.
The Indian quartet was disqualified and Kumar was seen being taken away from the Field of Play with the help of the volunteers.
It was a comedy of errors in the case of the women's 4x100m race, which saw the baton being dropped during an exchange between first leg runner Tamanna and second runner Nithya Gandhe, though the Indians finished the race in 53.09 seconds.
Gandhe started running quite a distance, but after realising that the baton was not in her hand, she turned and ran back to pick it up.
The only silver-lining for the Indian contingent was the national record time in the mixed 4x100m relay race, though the quartet of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha SS finished sixth in heat number two with a time of 41.35 seconds, bettering the previous national mark of 42.30 seconds set in March in Chandigarh.
The mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William and Rashdeep Kaur ended at fifth in heat number one with a time of 3 minutes and 19.40 seconds.
On Saturday, all the five Indian relay teams had failed to make it to the respective final rounds and thus missed out on the 2027 World Championships berths.
