Asha Bhosle, a prominent figure in the Indian music scene, has contributed her voice to thousands of songs across numerous languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, and English. Her passion for singing was evident from her early years, which eventually shaped her successful career. After ruling the Indian cinema for nearly half a century, Asha Bhosle transitioned her other interest into a profession: cooking. This love for culinary arts resulted in the establishment of her own chain of restaurants.
Born in Sangli, Maharashtra, on September 8, 1933, Asha Bhosle’s first marriage took place at the age of 16. This union ended in divorce. She later married the celebrated music composer R.D. Burman in 1980, a partnership that lasted until his demise. Asha Bhosle’s initial foray into playback singing was with the song ‘Sawan Aaya’ from the film ‘Chunaria’ (1948). Earlier, she sang for the Marathi film ‘Maza Bal’ (1943). On her 92nd birthday, we commemorate her achievements in music and business.
Following the lead of her sister, the late Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle commenced her singing career at an early age. She married Ganpatrao Bhosle at 16 in 1949 and had three children. Despite the challenges in her personal life, she never abandoned her singing career. Her career flourished after she married R.D. Burman in 1980.
Asha Bhosle has sung numerous romantic and melancholic songs, but she is also known for many of the most popular item songs of her time. Some of her iconic tracks are ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu,’ ‘Jawani Janeman,’ ‘Hangama Ho Gaya,’ ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo,’ ‘Do Lafzon Ki Hai Dil Ki Kahani,’ ‘Jhumka Gira Re,’ ‘Koi Shehri Babu,’ ‘Mera Kuchh Samaan,’ ‘Aao Na Gale Lag Jao Na,’ ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,’ and ‘Radha Kaise Na Jale,’ among others.
Reports indicate that Asha Bhosle opened her first restaurant, ‘Asha’s,’ in 2002 in WAFI, Dubai. Franchises were subsequently established in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain. These restaurants showcase renowned Indian dishes, which are enjoyed by many. She once revealed on a reality show that she always enjoyed cooking.
In her personal life, she often cooked for special guests, as requested by R.D. Burman, a task she cherished. When her work opportunities dwindled, she pursued her other interest. Asha Bhosle often visits her restaurants and shares updates on her Instagram account.
