Hindi
Asha Bhosle turns 81!
MUMBAI: Born on 8 September 1933, the evergreen Asha Bhosle is all set to embrace the 81st year of her life.
The younger sister of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, has sung for Bollywood actresses like Madhubala, Helen and Asha Parekh as well as the new-age heroines like Kareena Kapoor.
Celebrating her birthday and thanking her fans for supporting her in her journey, she tweeted, “Thank you for kind greetings. Without your support I wouldn’t have achieved my goals. Walk a bit longer with me & we’ll find the perfect note.”
The Padma Vibhushan awardee is said to have crooned more than 12,000 songs in multiple languages. Apart from Hindi, she has also sung in over 20 Indian and foreign languages.
In a career spanning over half a century filled with music and milestones, one of India’s most loved singers has faced a number of ups and downs in her professional as well as personal life.
Asha Bhosle started her career as a playback singer with ‘Chala chala nav bala’ in the Marathi film Majha Bal (1943) at the age of 10 to support her family. But she first tasted success with BR Chopra’s Naya Daur (1957), in which she sang ‘Saathi haath badhana ‘and ‘Uden jab jab zulfein teri’.
Some of her memorable numbers are, ‘Aaiye meherban’, ‘Jaaiye aap kahan’, ‘Raat akeli hai’, ‘Piya tu ab toh aaja’, ‘Dum maaro dum’, ‘Dil cheez kya hai’, ‘Yayi re yayi re’ and ‘Arre re arre’ among others.
In September 2009, The World Records Academy, an international organisation which certifies world records, recognised her as the ‘Most Recorded Artist’ in the world.
In 2011 she was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in music history. The Government of India honoured her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
In 2013, she made her debut as an actress at the age of 79, in the film Mai, and received critical acclaim for her performance.
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
