Asha Bhosle Once Credited Her First Ex-Husband, Ganpatrao For Her Singing Career, 'He Forced Me..'

Legendary singer, Asha Bhosle passed away at the age of 92. Her life was not at all a bed of roses, but filled with struggles. The evergreen singer passed away on April 12, 2026, and had a successful career lasting more than eight decades. Asha, before meeting RD Burman, was married to Ganpatrao. It is known that her marriage was toxic and she faced ill treatment. However, do you know that Asha once revealed that it was her ex-husband, Ganpatrao, who had forced her into singing?

When Asha Bhosle credited her ex-husband, Ganpatrao, for her career in the music industry

Asha was merely 16 when she ran away with Ganpatrao Bhosle, who was 20 years her senior. Asha was in an abusive marriage, had no choice but to work, earn money and also take care of her three kids. Earlier, in an interview with SheThePeople, Asha revealed that it was her first ex-husband, Ganpatrao, who had forced her to get into singing. When Asha was married to Ganpatrao, he earned only Rs. 100, which was not enough for their whole family. Asha, who always wanted to be a housewife, had to earn her bread and butter and manage the financial burden with her husband. Asha's sister, Lata, was already upset as she ran away with an older man and on a temporary basis, Lata Mangeshkar had also cut off ties from Asha Bhosle. In her words:

"He forced me to continue singing."

Asha Bhosle had to leave her one-month-old child behind to go out and sing

Asha's sister, Lata Mangeshkar, was the oldest sibling, and she had disapproved of the alliance between Asha and her first ex-husband. Ganpatrao. Earlier in an interview with the SCREEN, Asha mentioned that she had to leave her one-month-old child behind and go out and sing. Well, it was in 1949 that Asha welcomed her first child, Hemant. This was the moment that made her realise that she wanted a comfortable life for her child. She had to leave her child behind with her in-laws and also earn via singing gigs. In her words:

"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."

Asha Bhosle, earlier in an interview with Doordarshan, had also remembered how she had to go to Borivali with her husband's family. It used to be like a village, and her routine was all about getting water, cooking for the whole family, dropping off the kids at their school and also rushing them back to work.

Asha Bhosle once revealed facing abuse in her first love marriage

Well, this had gone on like for a couple of years. It was in 1960 when their marriage ended as the singer was asked to leave her husband's house while she was pregnant with Anand, who is her youngest son. In an interview with Kavita Chhiber, Asha shared that there was abuse and ill-treatment, and she was finally asked to leave when she was expecting Anand. The mother of three had a marriage which went beyond repair. She was not at all respected and was ill-treated, abused, and everything was toxic. In her words:

"I did go back to my mother, sisters, and brother. I do not blame anyone and have no ill will. The family was very conservative, and they could not handle a singing star for a daughter-in-law.”

Rest in peace, Asha Bhosle.

Also Read: When Asha Bhosle Saw Her Sister, Lata Mangeshkar As Competitor, 'Didi Ke Wajah Se Kaam Nai Milega..'

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