Guest Author
By Divakar Shukla
I was saddened to hear the passing of the legend Asha Bhosle last month. It brought back memories of seeing her in concert with Adnan Sami in Atlanta 2003 and in 2007 in Raleigh. The promoter of the Raleigh show Arvind Mahajan had set up a pre-show interview for me for Saathee and Nazar Television with Asha ji. My daughter Taige and sister Nehal greeted her backstage as she arrived for the show. A moment they still talk about often. I had the privilege of spending some time with Asha ji in the green room for the informal interview. During our chat her son, Anand entered the room and they began discussing the evening’s set list of songs. I became a fly on the wall listening to the casual mother/son conversation. Though we ran out of time for a formal on camera interview, she was very gracious in answering a few questions. Hope you enjoy reading Arvind’s memories here.
Divakar Shukla is the publisher of Saathee.
By Arvind Mahajan
April 13, 2026. On this day we lost one of the last towering pillars of an extraordinary era in Indian music — an era defined by legends like Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, and Kishore Kumar. Now, with the passing of Asha Bhosle, a golden chapter of music truly comes to a close.
She was not just a singer, but an emotion that transcended generations, languages, and borders. With a career spanning decade and songs in more than 20 languages, she touched so many lives, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire for generations to come.
I had the profound privilege of hosting Asha Bhosle in 2007 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, where nearly 3,900 patrons gathered to witness her magic. At the time, I had only recently begun promoting shows in 2005, and had already hosted artists like Javed Jaffrey, Paresh Rawal, Jagjit Singh, and Sonu Nigam. But hosting Asha Bhosle was a dream of a different magnitude.
When I heard she would be touring the U.S. with Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher, I knew I had to make it happen. At 74, she was already a living legend, and I decided to book the largest venue in town, believing the entire community would share my excitement.
At that time, I was working full-time with IBM, traveling to Atlanta during the week, and raising a one-year-old son. Yet, with the unwavering support of my wife Neha, what seemed impossible became achievable. Weekdays were for work, weekends for promotion—and together, we brought nearly 3,900 people together for an unforgettable evening.
When she arrived in Raleigh on June 12, 2007 — her first and only visit to what she fondly called a “small town” — she greeted us with her characteristic warmth and humor, asking, “Yahan par Holiday Inn toh hoga?” (There must be a Holiday Inn here?) We had the honor of hosting her at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, newly opened at the time.
What made it even more special was that Mrs. Goodnight, the owner of the hotel, personally met us along with her team and graciously offered to host Ashaji. It was a gesture of respect from one accomplished individual to another legend.
She loved the serene water views and the quiet elegance of the place.
Over the next few days, we experienced not just the artist, but the person behind the legend. She insisted we call her “Asha Tai,” and preferred simple home-cooked meals like chapatti and dal. She spent time playing with our young son, Arnav, showering him with grandmotherly affection. She shared personal photo albums, stories of her journey, her bond with Lata Mangeshkar, and reflections on her life in the film industry. Those moments were intimate, humbling, and unforgettable.
She was candid about her boundaries, including declining photographs due to uncomfortable past experiences, people interrupting her while eating, or being overly intrusive. This gave a deeper appreciation of the grace with which she navigated fame.
My brother, actor, Sandeep Mahajan was touring with her as an emcee. She guided him in several instances and surprisingly suggested that he should do something other than film industry as she would not prefer her kids to be in film industry as it’s very hard to survive. She had seen it all during her decades in the industry.
On June 15, the day of the concert, Raleigh came alive. The roads leading to the venue were filled with anticipation. It felt surreal. She had already made headlines in the local press and the excitement was palpable.
Dressed in a stunning cream saree with delicate sequins, her signature flower in her hair, and her cherished diamond bracelet — her “lucky charm” —Asha Tai radiated elegance. When a string of that bracelet went missing backstage, she was visibly concerned, but Neha found it just in time, restoring her calm before the performance.
On the way to the venue, she made sure Neha sat with her in the car, which was a small gesture that showed how comfortable she had become with us in just a couple of days.
Moments before stepping on stage, she did her ritual hug with her son Anand Bhosle.
Backstage, just before going on, she said something that stayed with me: She still felt nervous — like it was her first performance.
But once she stepped on stage, everything changed. Once the first note was sung, she became one with the audience.
As she walked towards the stage, introduced by Sandeep Mahajan and after a warm-up performance by Kunal Ganjawala, the entire arena erupted. Everyone was on their feet, welcoming her. And what followed was nothing short of magic.
For over 90 minutes, despite arthritis in her knees, she sang and danced with a spirit that defied age. From lullabies like “Lalla Lalla Lori” to timeless classics, she took the audience on a journey across decades from the 1940s to the 2000s.
The crowd laughed, cried, clapped, danced, grew emotional with her songs and sang along, completely immersed in the experience. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a celebration of a lifetime of music.
Every moment and every song was like a shower of love and excitement. Everyone just absorbed everything as this was their time of life with her.
After a brief intermission, during which Kailash Kher kept the energy alive, I requested her to perform duets, songs immortalized with Mohammed Rafi. Her initial response was sharp and honest: “Rafi kahan se laoge tum?” (How will you bring Rafi?). Yet, in her generosity, she agreed, and returned to the stage to perform alongside Kunal Ganjawala, creating moments the audience will never forget, with songs like “Aaja Aaja” and “Piya Tu.”
As the evening drew to a close, she stood on stage with her fellow performers, bowed to the audience, and bid farewell to Raleigh. No one wanted the night to end.
To our utmost surprise, as she came down from stage, she told me- “Arvind, please bring your friends and sponsor – I will take few pics with them”. Her son reminded “Asha Tai – aap toh photo nahin lete usually”. Her response was “Aaj le lenge. Yeh log alag hain.” (Today we will take the pics. These people are different).
Our friends and sponsors were at the top of moon and got their picture with their Queen of Melody.
She came back to her hotel at 1 am after the performance and must have slept at 2am after dinner. She came down with same energy at 4:30am ready to take a flight to Calgary.
I was so surprised to see Asha Tai, at age of 74, so charged up and couldn’t see any sign of tiredness on her face. We saw her off at the airport after lot of warm hugs from her, with hope to see her sometime soon.
Nineteen years later, that evening remains vivid in my memory. The sound of her voice, the energy of the crowd, the honor of hosting a legend.
Today, while we mourn her loss, we also celebrate a life that gave us immeasurable joy. For me, it was not just an event but a privilege, a dream fulfilled, and a memory I will carry forever.
I feel immense gratitude. For those few days. For that one unforgettable night. For the privilege of hosting not just a legend—but a beautiful human being.
Asha Tai may have left us, but her music — and the moments she gifted us — will live on eternally.
Memories like these are rare!
Arvind Mahajan presented the Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy concert on May 3, 2026 in Raleigh. Contact: arvind@akminvestment.com.
