For Adnan Sami, few moments in his long musical journey carry the weight of a compliment from Asha Bhosle. On what would have been the legendary singer’s 93rd birthday, Sami recalled the words that he still considers a career-defining honour.
In an interview with Screen, Sami spoke about Bhosle and her late husband, composer RD Burman, and their influence on his career. He recalled meeting the pair as a 10-year-old at a concert in London, where his original composition caught their attention.
When Burman questioned whether Sami had really composed the tune himself, the young musician played it on his portable keyboard. Both Burman and Bhosle were impressed by his talent and believed he had a promising musical future. Burman died in 1994, years before Sami’s career in India flourished.
Sami recalled Bhosle once telling him, “Agar Pancham aaj hota toh tumhe dekh ke bada khush hota.” He said those words have stayed with him because Burman had encouraged him as a child.
But Sami said Bhosle later gave him what he considers the biggest compliment of his career.
After recording Kabhi To Nazar Milao in London, Sami recalled dropping Bhosle at Heathrow Airport. Just before she headed to immigration, she told him, “If anyone’s understood my voice after Pancham, it’s you.”
Sami said he felt as though he had received a “lifetime achievement award”.
He also credited Bhosle with shaping his 30-year-plus career and encouraging him to try his luck in India. Sami initially planned to release Kabhi To Nazar Milao in London, but Bhosle urged him to release the album in Mumbai.
“If it’s a hit in Mumbai, it’ll be a hit all over. There’s no better distribution platform than Mumbai,” she told him, according to Sami.
Bhosle also wanted to produce an album for him. Sami said he arrived in India with clothes for only a month but ultimately stayed for the rest of his life.
Bhosle and Sami collaborated on songs including Mehndi Masala, Koi Rehta Hai, Pyar Bina and Aao Na, among others.
Asha Bhosle died on 12 April 2026, aged 92.
