Ashwani Rangta as been appointed as head chef of the first Asha’s restaurant in Manchester.

The new restaurant and cocktail bar in the city will open in September with Bollywood singing star Asha Bhosle at the launch.

Menus will offer an array of Modern Indian Cuisine paired with a modern cocktail menu and carefully selected wine list.

The new Asha’s venue in the elegant Victorian building at 47 Peter St, Manchester, facing the Theatre Royale, comprises 6000 sq. ft over two floors.

The upper ground floor is the 100-cover restaurant and the lower ground floor will host a private dining space and Bollibar, the cocktail bar for 70.

Originally hailing from Northern India, new head chef Ashwani’s love for cuisine began in his mother’s kitchen. He followed his passion into a culinary career, where he went on to cook for heads of state and luminaries at five star hotels around the country.

Before being appointed to head up the kitchen at Asha’s, Ashwani was the chef in charge at the award-winning restaurant of the luxury ITC Gardenia hotel in Bangalore.

Ashwani said: “I am very excited to be part of the Asha’s team and to bring our delicious contemporary cuisine to Manchester diners.

“The innovative menu at Asha’s will celebrate authentic Indian flavours and spices, while providing a modern twist on recipes our guests know and love - all using the best fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

“We have an excellent team of culinary specialists crafting our dishes onsite, including our artisan pastry chef, along with friendly food handlers to guide diners through their Asha’s experience.”

Peter Warden, ARIL Group General Manager, said: “We are delighted to have Ashwani on board as head chef of our upcoming restaurant in Manchester. This will be our tenth Asha’s around the world and for the Manchester venue we have taken a major leap forward in the evolution of the brand. “I am sure that the good people of Manchester will be delighted with the fantastic décor, delicious drinks and amazing award winning food that they will be able to enjoy when we open in September.”

Herself a noted cook, she opened her first restaurant at Wafi City, Dubai in 2002, and the brand is now dotted all over the Middle East, as well as a highly successful restaurant in Birmingham that has won numerous awards and accolades, including a recommendation in the coveted Michelin Guide since 2009, and The Sunday Times top 150 in association with Harden’s Guide.

In 2011 the Guinness Book of World Records officially acknowledged Asha as the most recorded artist in music history, with over 11,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages, and in over 1,000 Bollywood movies.