‘Itni khushi hoti hai mujhe ye chef coat pehen kar’: Inside Asha Bhosle’s restaurant in Dubai

When you enter Asha’s, the first thing you notice are the walls. They’re filled with black-and-white photos, some with famous faces, others more personal. Asha ji, smiling warmly, points to a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Pehle din pradhan mantri bane, doosre din main unse mili,” she chuckles.

She gestures towards another frame, this time with Dev Anand. “Mera hero,” she says with a sparkle in her eye.

Asha’s isn’t just limited to Dubai. The restaurant has locations in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. (Source: Instagram/Asha Bhosle)

There’s also a photo with Indira Gandhi, one with sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, and many more; Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and others.

While Asha ji is known for her voice, food has always been a big part of her life. At the restaurant, she’s often involved, whether it’s tweaking recipes or sharing favourites.  “Itni khushi hoti hai mujhe ye chef coat pehen kar,” the singer told Curly Tales. “Jab yeh coat pehenti hoon na, lagta hai jaise koi accha dress pehna ho.”

The menu at Asha’s blends traditional recipes with a modern touch, something that appeals not just to Indians in Dubai, but to food lovers from all over. Asha’s isn’t just limited to Dubai. The restaurant has locations in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

And it’s not just the food that makes Asha’s special, it’s the way it brings people together. You feel like you’re sitting in her living room, being fed stories, songs and soul food.

There are also pictures of her family — her son, her grandchildren — and even one of her as a six-month-old baby with chubby cheeks.

“Moti thi na, sabko pasand thi,” she says with a grin.