Asha Bhosle has been a name to contend with in the Hindi film industry since the last four decades. Considering that she had to grow up in the shadow of her sister, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha has indeed done very well for herself.

Initially she had to face the inevitable – unfair comparisons with her more popular sister. But she did not let that affect her. Perseverance paid off, as she overtook tough contenders, including Geeta Dutt.

The first composer to recognise her talent was O P Nayyar, for whom Asha sang memorable tunes such as Aankhon se jo utri hai dil mein in Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon to Yeh hai reshmi zulfon ka andhera in Mere Sanam.

It was Nayyar who helped Asha bring out such excellent sensuality in Aaiye meherban from the movie Howrah Bridge.

The other composer who influenced her was S D Burman, who taught her to bring forth her deepest emotions while singing. But the composition that won her the National Award for Best Singer was by R D Burman, whom she later married.

She won the award in the mid 1980s, while she was at the peak of her career, for the song Mera kuch saman tumhare paas pada hai from Ijaazat.

Not one to be left behind, Asha has now started experimenting with Indipop and remixes. And she has done a pretty good job at that – if the success of albums such as Rahul And I and Asha Once More is any indication.

Even her first Indipop album, Jaanam Samjha Karo, was a big hit and made Asha a rage among the younger generation.

Asha is probably one of the few singers today who can handle a sensuous song like Piya tu ab to aaja and ghazals such as Dil cheez kya hai with equal ease and grace.