Asha Bhosle, widely regarded as the ‘Voice of Bollywood’, has passed away at the age of 92. She has also voiced various Nepali songs that remain at the heart of the country’s musical landscape.

According to Hindustan Times, she was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital on Saturday, April 11, after experiencing cardiac and respiratory issues. The report says the singer had not been keeping well for the last few months and was brought to the hospital in a critical state, and was admitted to the ICU on Saturday night.

Her son Anand confirmed the news of her passing on Sunday.

Born in 1933 into the Mangeshkar family, Bhosle began her career at a young age. By the time she was 9 years old, she had started singing professionally, recording her first film song in 1943 for the Marathi film ‘Majha Bal’.

While her contribution to India’s music and cinema remains unparalleled, Bhosle also carved a deep and enduring connection with Nepali audiences. With her widely celebrated Nepali songs such as ‘Mohani Lagla Hai’, ‘Gairi Khetko Shirai Hanyo’, ‘Aaja Hamro Bhet Bhako Dina’, ‘Basanta Nai Basna Khojcha Yaha, ‘Yo Ho Mero Pran Bhanda Pyaro Maitighar’, and ‘Aage Aage Topaiko Gola’ Bhosle’s voice travelled generations and geographies, which marked her timeless, legendary and versatile presence in Nepal’s musical memory.

In Nepali films, including ‘Maitighar’ (1966), ‘Deuta’ (1991), ‘Jwala’ (1994), her voice became integral, amplifying the emotional depth of their narratives.

Indian playback music has long held cultural prominence in Nepal, with several artists, including Bhosle, drawing inspiration from it. Her collaborations with Narayan Gopal, Udit Narayan Jha, Sadhana Sargam, Danny and many other artists are embedded in the country’s shared cultural arc.

Singer Kunti Moktan recalls her early childhood memories of wanting to replicate Asha Bhosle’s voice. “When I was in Darjeeling, her songs would echo from the mic,” she told the Post. “Attempting to sing ‘Jhajhalko Liyera Aaye Cha Sawan’ is deeply carved in my core memories. Even in the present days, when asked to sing my favourite song, I hum its rhythms.”

Like many, she calls Bhosle the Saraswati of music. “Even though she is no longer with us, her legacy will remain as long as Nepali music exists,” says Moktan. “Losing an artist like her, whose versatility was simply unmatched, fills me with deepest sorrow.”

Singer Gyanu Rana, reflecting on her memories of Bhosle’s music, highlights the singer’s abundant and far-reaching contributions to the music industry and reverently addresses her as Saraswati. “Her every song, particularly her ghazals, carried an emotional depth that few could replicate,” she told the Post while humming Bhosle’s ‘Salona Sa Sajan Hai Aur Main Hun’.

Rana notes how the singer’s voice bridged classical finesse with evolving appeal. “Countless of her songs surface when I think of her. Be it ghazals or contemporary music, the depth of her voice remains deeply memorable,” says Rana.

Milan Moktan, the founding director of Sadhana Kala Kendra, Putalisadak, recalls inviting Bhosle to Nepal in December, 2019. “She elevated the beauty of music, in Nepal and in the world,” he says, recalling her presence, not just as a musician, but as a compassionate, generous, and benevolent human being.

As he looks back on the joy of inviting her, he remembers her wish to revisit Nepal with more Hindi songs. “Next time, call me to sing more Hindi music,” she had said to him. He recalls ‘Saune Jharima’ as one of Bhosle’s beloved and memorable songs.

As tributes pour in from across the world, with messages from renowned Bollywood figures such as Shah Rukh Khan, Hema Malini, Akshay Kumar and Shreya Ghosal, Bhosle’s passing marks the end of an era.

In Nepal, her songs remain embedded in everyday lives, echoing in cultural programmes, gatherings and quiet moments of nostalgia.