New Delhi: Veteran actor Poonam Dhillon has shared heartfelt memories of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle, recalling their final meeting shortly before the icon’s passing. Asha Bhosle, who died on April 12, 2026, at the age of 92, left behind a monumental legacy that shaped Indian music for more than eight decades.
Speaking about the emotional moment, Poonam revealed she had visited the singer at her residence just a day before her passing.
“I was there at her house. She was lying there, calm, peaceful, and still looking beautiful. I think she lived a fulfilled life. She had her ups and downs. The ups have been fabulous. The love, respect, success and adulation she received is unparallel,” Poonam said in an interview with News9Live’s Bharati K Dubey.
Poonam Dhillon recalls fond memories with Asha Bhosle
Over a career spanning more than eight decades, Asha Bhosle recorded over 12,000 songs across multiple languages and genres. From ghazals and classical melodies to cabaret and pop hits, she remained one of the most versatile voices in Indian cinema.
“My relationship with her goes back many years. I used to call her Aai which means mother in Marathi. She was like a mother to me,” Poonam shared. She even recalled one particular moment that stayed with her for decades. When the actor was planning to get married, Asha Bhosle personally visited her home to talk about the decision.
“She asked me, ‘Shaadi kar rahi hai?’ She was concerned about who I was marrying and wanted to know about the boy. She told me think it through and then get married. She was always there as a concerned mother,” Poonam revealed.
Asha Bhosle’s 90th birthday
Poonam Dhillon also recalled attending Asha Bhosle’s 90th birthday celebration in Dubai, where the singer performed for nearly two hours in front of a packed stadium. “I told her to sit down for a while and perform. But she was determined to sing standing. She sang standing, on her 90th birthday, for two hours.”