Asha Bhosle, a luminary in Bollywood, has enriched the world of music with her vocals in a multitude of languages, spanning Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, and English. Her lifelong passion for singing blossomed into a celebrated career. Following her extensive reign in Indian cinema, Bhosle channeled another of her passions – cooking – into a flourishing business venture. This led to the establishment of her namesake restaurants.
Born in Sangli, Maharashtra, on September 8, 1933, Asha Bhosle married at 16, though the union was short-lived. In 1980, she married the renowned music composer R.D. Burman, a partnership that endured until his passing. Her debut song, ‘Sawan Aaya,’ was for the film ‘Chunaria’ (1948), and her earliest work was for the Marathi film ‘Maza Bal’ (1943). As she celebrates her 92nd birthday, we delve into Asha Bhosle’s journey, encompassing her musical achievements and her entrepreneurial pursuits in the restaurant industry.
Echoing the legacy of her elder sister, the late Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle embarked on her singing career at a young age. She married Ganpatrao Bhosle at 16 in 1949, and they had three children. Despite the eventual breakdown of the marriage, she persevered in her singing career. The marriage to R.D. Burman in 1980 further propelled her to new heights in her professional journey.
Asha Bhosle has not only lent her voice to romantic and melancholic tracks but has also become synonymous with the most iconic item songs of her time. Her timeless hits include ‘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 many others.
Her first restaurant, ‘Asha’s,’ was inaugurated in 2002 in Dubai’s WAFI. Subsequently, franchises expanded to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain, offering a taste of authentic Indian cuisine. In a reality show, she shared that she had always cherished cooking.
At home, she was often entrusted by R.D. Burman to prepare meals for special guests, a task she embraced. As opportunities in her primary field lessened over time, she decided to pursue her other passion. Asha Bhosle continues to visit her restaurants regularly and shares updates about her ventures on Instagram.