Mumbai, May 2: Legendary singer Asha Bhosle may no longer be with us, but her music and memories continue to resonate in the hearts of her fans. In an upcoming episode of Indian Idol, actor Riteish Deshmukh became emotional while reminiscing about Asha Bhosle.
While paying tribute to the singer, Riteish shared personal moments spent with her. He recounted, “Whenever she met me, she would affectionately pat my head like a mother. I always called her ‘Asha Aai’ (Mother Asha) and still remember her by that name.”
Riteish also shared a fond memory of Asha’s simplicity and warmth. He recalled, “Once, during our conversation, she asked me in Marathi what I liked to eat and what I should have at that moment. We then went to her home, had a meal together, and talked for hours.”
The actor regarded Asha as his mentor, stating, “Whenever I had a program or appeared on TV, I would always receive a call from her. She would talk to me and bless me abundantly.”
While discussing his upcoming film based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Riteish’s eyes filled with tears. He remembered, “She called me and said, ‘I bless you; make a very good film. When it releases, I will definitely watch it.’”
With a heavy heart, Riteish revealed that just two weeks before the film’s release, he received a call from her family saying that Asha Ji was very eager to see the film. He lamented, “Unfortunately, ‘Asha Aai’ is no longer with us to watch this film. I miss her for many reasons.”