The passing of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle on April 12 at the age of 92 marks the end of an era in Indian music. Tributes have poured in from across the industry, but among the most heartfelt is that of singer Shaan, who shared intimate memories of his conversations and bond with the icon.LATE-NIGHT CALLS AND LIFELONG MEMORIESFor Shaan, his connection with Asha Bhosle was not defined merely by professional admiration, but by personal warmth and unexpected moments. He has been a part of multiple shows and performed with her on stage for decades. “I’ve had the privilege and the good fortune of having a lot of conversations with Asha ji on the phone,” he recalled. “Mostly I would never know how to reach out to her. So she would call… whenever she would call, we would get to speak.“One such memory remains etched vividly in his mind, a late-night call that came without warning. “It was quite late that night, around 11 or 11:30, and suddenly I see her name flashing on my phone,” he said. True to her personality, Asha Ji skipped pleasantries. “She was always very straight to the point… she said, ‘Accha sun, Tera beta gaane laga hai main sun rahi hoon.‘ So, I told her that was my older boy. That show was in 2004 when we had performed in London together. Soham was crying and she said, ‘I took him in Godi and I held him up. And that time she announced on stage, “Yeh jo bachcha dekh rahe hai, I have performed with his Dadaji, (my father). Aaj bete ke saath kar kar hoon hoon and when this child grows up, I will perform with him too!”And that is what she reminded me again. “She said, ‘Now that your son has become big, you are at home, how can you sing with him!’ I was absolutely stunned. The fact that she remembered all this and actually said that about my son. I told my son Mahi. And he was absolutely elated. He took her blessings.”A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, A LASTING REGRETDespite the emotional weight of that invitation, Shaan admits he never followed up. “I didn’t know how to really go about doing that,” he said. “Whenever she would call, we would speak… but I rarely reached out to her. I guess its my personality that I never reached out to her.” That hesitation now lingers as a quiet regret. “And now, I guess I never will,” he said.‘HER BLESSINGS WERE MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT’Beyond memories, Shaan emphasized the profound influence Asha Bhosle had on his life and career. “I have always mentioned this-Asha ji’s aashirwaad and fondness for my voice will remain my greatest take back from my singing career,” he said. “No other achievement or compliment can match up.” He described her as a towering inspiration. “She is my greatest inspiration to work hard and focus on what is in one’s control.“AN UNMATCHED MUSICAL LEGACYAs the industry reflects on her unmatched contribution, Shaan echoed a sentiment shared by many: that Asha Bhosle’s legacy is simply beyond comparison. “Her body of work is unmatched… she has set the bar so high that it’s impossible for anyone to match up,” he said. Yet, even in her absence, her influence remains indelible. “She will continue to inspire and give us hope that if we work hard, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” mahesh manjrekar