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‘She was family to us’: Pune’s Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital mourns loss of Asha Bhosle

From singing to a newborn in a hospital ward to her final acts of devotion as a mother just a day before her passing, those who treated Asha Bhosle remember a spirited soul who found joy in the simplest acts of kindness.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Apr 12, 2026 06:46 PM IST

Asha Bhosale with Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, trustee at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. (Photo: Dr Dhananjay Kelkar).

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle, the voice that defined generations of Indian cinema, passed away at the age of 92 in Mumbai Sunday. While the world mourns a musical titan, those close to her, particularly the medical community in Pune, are remembering a woman who was “colour, energy, and life personified”.

Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, medical director and trustee at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, recalled a story that captures the singer’s kindness. During a stay for a minor illness, Bhosle discovered that a young mother and a newborn were in the room next to hers.

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“She did not know them personally,” Dr Kelkar said. “But Ashatai went to their room and sang a lullaby to the child in the cradle. She reached out to them with pure affection. That was Ashatai: extraordinary, full of laughter, and never one to sit quietly. She was an extraordinary person,” Dr Kelkar said.

Pune: The ‘maternal home’

Since first meeting her in 1998, Dr Kelkar has witnessed the singer’s deep bond with the city of Pune. “Ashatai was a member of our hospital family. We would often joke that this was her maika (maternal home), a place where she would rest and feel cared for before returning to the professional rigours of her sasural in Mumbai.”

“Ashatai had deep affection and respect for the hospital and its doctors and trusted us completely for her medical care. For her, this hospital was not just a place of treatment; it was a second home,” he said.

Even in her final days, her spirit remained undiminished. Dr Kelkar visited her at her holiday home in Lonavala just two weeks ago. “She was in wonderful spirits, showing me around with excitement, talking about the trees she wanted to plant and the things she wanted to build. She was truly enjoying life.”

“Before Covid, we organised a small musical programme for our doctors in the hospital auditorium. We would often discuss which songs she would enjoy and which the doctors would prefer. Two songs she particularly cherished were ‘Nigahein Milane Ko Dil Chahta Hai” and the non-film composition “Tumul Kolahal.. Mein’,” he said.

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Dr Kelkar also said that she would fulfil her role as a mother with total devotion. “Just yesterday morning, despite having a fever and cough, she was cooking for her son Anand and serving him with love, just like any mother would. That, for her, was pure joy, even though she was a day away from her destiny,” Dr Kelkar said.

Meanwhile, at the Pune-based Doctors’ Orchestra for Charity and Social Service (DOCS), several doctors said they were honoured to pay tribute to Ashatai.

“The type of songs she sang was a delight for professional singers,” said Dr Dasmit Singh, a founding member of DOCS.

Dr Kamlesh Bokil, another founding member, also recalled that it was always a privilege to perform Asha Bhosle’s songs. “Our doctor singers loved to sing Asha Bhosle’s popular numbers like ‘Piya Tu’, ‘Bhawara Bada Naadan’, ‘Khatouba’, ‘Kajra Mohabbatwala’, and ‘Chura Liya’, among others,” Dr Singh said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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