“Yeh Mera Dil, Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko..” Some songs are eternal, forever etched in our memories for its melodies courtesy the legendary Asha Bhosle. Popularly known as the Queen of Indie Pop, the vivacious and extremely graceful singer turns 87th today.
Born on September 8, 1933, Asha Bhosle is one of India’s most celebrated singers. She made her debut as a 10-year-old with ‘Chala Chala Nav Bala’ and has remained a legend ever since. On her birthday, we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the timeless singer and India’s most priceless jewel:
Lesser Known Facts about the Queen of Indie Pop
- Asha Bhosle holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Amravati & Jalgaon in Literature
- Merely at the age of 16, Asha Bhosle sang her first solo for Raat ki Raani in 1949
- She rose to fame after singing Nanhe Munhe Bachche with Mohammed Rafi in 1949
- Apart from Hindi, she has sung more than 12,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages, including Bangla and Malayalam. She has also sung in Sinhala
- She was the first Indian singer to be nominated for a Grammy
- The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Vibhushan was conferred upon her in 2000 and 2008 respectively
- She performed in 13 cities in the US, all in the span of 20 days
- In 2019, Asha Bhosle conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Manchester’s University of Salford for being an inspiration across generations
- She collaborated with Australian former international cricketer, Brett Lee for his music debut- ‘You’re the One for Me’ in 2006
- Apart from being an excellent cook, Asha Bhosle owns a chain of restaurants across the globe, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Birmingham, and Manchester
Asha Bhosle on turning 87
Talking about her life and journey, she said, “Looking back, Asha Tai has no regrets. I am happy I have lived and loved. I have lived an honest life. I am happy that I stood on my own feet as a 10-year-old singing my first song. Today at 87, I am still singing and standing on my own feet. And I have a beautiful family and an even larger fan-family. What more could I ask for!”
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