When Asha Bhosle Opened Up On Her First Marriage, Called It Ab*sive; Conservative Family Couldn’t Handle Singing Career

Disclaimer: This article discusses sensitive topics such as domestic ab*se, financial struggles, and the emotional difficulties of single parenthood. The information shared is intended for biographical and reflective purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal guidance.

Asha Bhosle married Ganpatrao Bhosle when she was just 16, a union that was 20 years her senior. This had led to a rift with her sister Lata Mangeshkar. After escaping an ab*sive marriage, she raised her three children as a single mother. Asha’s life was marked by resilience and determination. She passed away at the age of 92 in Mumbai on Sunday, April 12. Her illustrious career spanned over 8 decades, during which she managed her work while also caring for her family as a single mother.

Asha Bhosle Was Forced To Work Due To Financial Struugles In First Marriage

Asha Bhosale’s first marriage was to Ganpatrao when she was 16, and he was 31. Due to their financial struggles, she had no choice but to work and earn money alongside managing household chores, caring for her children, and supporting her in-laws. In an earlier interview, she revealed that her marriage had been abusive.

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She shared that Ganpatrao earned only Rs 100 per month, which was insufficient for the entire family, prompting her to contribute financially. Her elopement with a much older man caused tension within her family; her sister Lata Mangeshkar temporarily cut ties with her. During that period, both sisters were trying to establish themselves as singers, especially after the death of their father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar. “Lata didi did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the alliance,” she told Kavita Chhibber in a 2003 interview.

Asha Ji Left Her One-Month-Old Son Hemant To Earn Money

Soon after her marriage, Asha Bhosle welcomed her first son, Hemant, in 1949. In a 1993 interview with Doordarshan Kolkata, she recalled that this was when she realised she needed to leave her in-laws’ house to provide a better life for her son. Leaving her one-month-old behind, she went out to sing gigs to earn money. She shared, “I would have to leave my one-month-old behind so I could go and sing and earn money. In those struggle days, sometimes I would get a song, sometimes I would not. I would wake at 5 am for riyaaz. Apart from all this, I had to do all the household chores as well.” She later had a daughter, Varsha, in 1956.

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Asha recounted that after moving to Borivali with her husband’s family, her routine involved fetching water from the well, cooking for the family, dropping her children at school, and rushing to work. This continued for several years, but her marriage ended in 1960 when she was pregnant with her youngest son, Anand, and asked to leave her husband’s home.

Asha Ji Was Asked To Leave Her Husband’s Home

Her marriage to Ganpatrao turned ab*sive, and during her pregnancy with her third child, she faced harsh challenges. She was asked to leave her husband’s house and support herself. In a 2003 interview with Kavita Chhibber, Asha described her marriage as a love marriage marred by abuse: “There was ab*se and ill-treatment, and I was finally asked to leave when I was expecting my youngest son, Anand. I did go back to my mother, sisters, and brother. I do not blame anyone and have no ill will,” she said. “The family was very conservative, and they could not handle a singing star for a daughter-in-law.”

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Her first marriage was not successful; Asha Bhosle and Ganpatrao separated in 1960. While she was building her career and raising her children largely alone, her husband passed away in 1966. Despite her rising fame, she faced criticism for her bold song choices. But for Asha, it was always about providing for her family. “People would ask, ‘Why do you sing such songs?’ I asked, ‘Should I leave it? Who will take care of my children then? Was I singing for happiness?’ It was my need. I had to raise my kids,” she told ITMB in 2007.

Years after Ganpatrao’s death, Asha married music composer RD Burman in 1980, continuing her journey both personally and professionally.

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Also Read: When Asha Bhosle Recreated Vicky Kaushal’s VIRAL Tauba Tauba Hookstep During Last Concert With Sonu Nigam And Set The Stage On Fire – Watch

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