From Boy George To Gorillaz, Asha Bhosle's Iconic International Collaborations Live On

It's

not surprising that the late Asha Bhosle held the world record for the most recorded artist in music history. The veteran singer, who died on April 12, was always eager to collaborate with singers and artists around the world. She even had two Grammy Award nominations for the albums You've Stolen My Heart - Songs From RD Burman's Bollywood and Legacy. But it was her international collaborations with artists like Boy George, Michael Stipe and even cricketer Brett Lee that kept her young. In 2026, her most recent collaboration was with British band Gorillaz on their album, The Mountain, aka Parvat. Find out more below.

Asha Bhosle's international duets

Since the 1990s, Asha ji didn't just limit herself to playback singing in feature films. She also released her own albums and recorded duets with international stars. In 1991, she gave the female vocals on Boy George's song Bow Down Mister. Inspired by a trip to India, Bow Down Mister also uses the Hare Krishna mantra. The veteran singer also collaborated on more tracks with Boy George and Stephen Lauscombe. She and Lauscombe had also recorded a version of the ABBA classic, I Have A Dream, which never came out.

At 64, Asha joined the boy band Code Red for the romantic duet We Can Make It in 1997. The band had even performed the hit track at the Channel V Music Awards in Dehli. Additionally, she recorded The Way You Dream with R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe. The song was included in the 2003 action film Bulletproof Monk starring Chow Yun-fat and was previously released on the album 1 Giant Leap in 2002. Finally, on her private album, Asha and Friends, the legendary singer and Australian cricket player Brett Lee sang the duet You're the One for Me (Haan Main Tumhara Hoon).

Asha's second Grammy Award nomination came for her collaborations with Kronos Quartet. They re-recorded her hits with her late husband RD Burman on the songs Chura Liya, Piya Tu and Mera Kuchh Saaman. The group was nominated in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2006.

Singers and bands who used her songs

The band Cornershop had a tribute to the Bollywood singer with their track, Brimful of Asha, in 1997. It was later remixed by Fatboy Slim. Singer Nelly Furtado's song I'm Like a Bird had a version called Nellie vs. Asha Remix by Digital Cutup Lounge. Sarah Brightman used the Umrao Jaan song Dil Cheez Kya Hai as the intro to her song You Take My Breath Away from her album Harem in 2003. In their global hit, Don't Phunk with My Heart, the Black Eyed Peas sampled the songs Ae Naujawan Sab Kuchh Yahan from Apradh (1974) and Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Diwana from the 1978 film Don.

Asha Bhosle's last international collaboration

The veteran singer was included in the song, The Shadowy Light, on the British band Gorillaz's The Mountain. The India-inspired album also features artists Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash, and Ayaan Ali Bangash. Anoushkar Shankar also played the sitar on a few songs from the album, which is also called Parvat.

On her last post, Asha had written why the song holds deeper meaning to her. She wrote, "My crossing this deep river signifies my life’s journey… my birth, my relationships, my dedication to music, my achievements and my duties as a daughter, mother, sister, wife and a Hindu Indian. The boatman is my music, my guide across this river of life and when I get to the other side, my journey shall be complete."