Asha Bhosle's grandson Chin2 recalls her curiosity for AI, passion for theatre

Asha Bhosle's grandson Chintu Bhosle remembered her playful nature at home and said her curiosity about AI, fearless attitude, and love for the arts stayed strong till her final years.

In Short

• Asha Bhosle’s grandson recalled her warmth and playful spirit
• Family shared grief with entire nation over her passing
• She remained curious about AI and modern technology

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle’s grandson Chin2 Bhosle remembered the icon as someone who brought the same warmth, curiosity, and infectious energy to everyday life that audiences saw on stage. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, he spoke about her playful side at home, her interest in new technology, fearless outlook, and enduring passion for the arts.

Speaking about the emotional connection millions share with Asha Bhosle, Chin2 said the family feels heartbroken, but believes the pain is shared by the entire country.

“We are heartbroken, but I think our pain is no less than the pain the country is going through. At least we were fortunate enough to know her, meet her, and spend time with her. For people who were dying to meet her and spend time with her, it must be so much more painful,” he said.

Recalling the charm that made her voice so beloved across generations, Chin2 said the same playful spirit existed in her everyday life as well.

“There was a chulbulness in her voice which connected with so many of us. Honestly, that chulbulness was her personality. She was like that at home as well. She was like that as a person, as a cook; she was like that as a grandmother, as a great-grandmother, as a mother. She had a zest for life. Woh ek cheekiness hota hai na, woh sparkle jo hota hai aankhon mein, it existed for everything,” he said.

He added that one of the biggest lessons he learnt from her was that true legends remain authentic in every setting. “Actually, one of my learnings is legends aise nahi bante. You cannot be this person over here and this person over here. She was consistently Asha Bhosle,” he said.

Chin2 also revealed that despite belonging to an earlier era, Asha Bhosle remained incredibly curious about modern developments and was especially interested in artificial intelligence.

“To her credit, she was interested in everything. ‘AI kya hai?’ She would ask. We used to tell her that now, through AI, the voices of singers who are no longer with us can be used to create new songs. Normally, people say AI means writers’ jobs will go, singers’ jobs will go, filmmakers’ jobs will go. That is the general reaction of a creative person. But she would never react like that. She would say, ‘Achha, kyu? Kya hota hai? Batao,” he said.

Chin2 added that she wanted to understand things for herself before forming an opinion. “Until she saw it and heard it herself, she kept asking questions. Then she would say, ‘Haan, yeh toh bahut sundar hai haan yahan pe pata chalta hai.’ I used to say not bad, but she would say, ‘Fantastic.’ She was never closed to new ideas,” he recalled.

According to Chin2 , dinner table conversations with Asha Bhosle would often move beyond music into world affairs, politics, and current events. He remembered one striking anecdote from when she was in Israel for a performance during a tense geopolitical moment.

“At the dining table, we would talk about everything, from Iran to war and what was happening around the world. She was in Israel for a show a couple of years back when all that happened there. Everyone was saying, ‘Andar jao, andar jao.’ But she said, ‘Yeh mauka kahan milega? I am here now, kya karu?’”

He said while everyone around her rushed to safety, the singer chose to step out and witness history unfolding. “Everybody was going inside, and she was walking out onto the balcony saying, ‘Kya ho raha hai?’ That was her zest for life. She would say, ‘Jaana hai toh jayenge. Whether I am sitting in the room or standing outside, if something has to happen, it will happen. So I might as well stand outside, see it, and say wow.’ Not wow because it was beautiful, but wow because history was happening in front of your eyes. Why would I sit inside?” he said.

Chin2 recalled how just days before her death, she attended a Marathi play in Vile Parle and used the opportunity to encourage audiences to support stage productions.

“Three or four days before (her death), this happened, she went for a Marathi show at Vile Parle. She snuck out of the house, called and said, ‘Chal chal chal, jate hain show ke liye.’ She got on stage. It was not even her stage; another play was going on, and it was an interval. She lovingly told the audience, ‘Tum log nahin aayenge show ke liye, how will art live? How will art flourish?’ She told everyone, ‘Sabko bolo aao, naatak ke liye aao,’” he shared.

Asha Bhosle died at the age of 92 on April 12.

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