iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekh will be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday, September 27, announced that the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 will be accorded to legendary actress Asha Parekh. The award will be presented at the National Film Award ceremony in New Delhi.
Announcing the decision Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, said: “I am honored to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury has decided to recognize & award Asha Parekh ji for her exemplary lifetime contribution to Indian Cinema.” The Minister also announced that the 68th National Film Awards will be held on 30 September 2022, and will be presided over by President of India Droupadi Murmu.
Last year, actor, and producer Rajinikanth was honored with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2019. The awards were delayed by a year due to the pandemic.
Asha Parekh, a renowned film actress, director, and producer, and an accomplished Indian classical dancer, started her career as a child actor she made her debut as a lead heroine in Dil Deke Dekho and went on to become one of the highest-paid, top stars of Hindi films from 1950-1973. She has acted in celebrated films like Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Love in Tokyo, Aya Saawan Jhoom Ke, Aan Milo Sajna, Mera Gaon Mera Desh.
She was conferred the Padma Shri in 1992 and has also served as the head of the Central Board for Film Certification from 1998-2001.
Thakur added that the decision to confer the 52nd Dadasaheb Phalke award to Parekh was taken by a jury of five members that included legendary singer Asha Bhosle, veteran actresses Hema Malini, and Poonam Dhillon, film director TS Nagabharana, and singer Udit Narayan.
Instituted in 1969 when presented to Devika Rani, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced by the Government of India to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke’s contribution to Indian cinema. Dadasaheb Phalke directed India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra in 1913.
Honored with the highest award in the field of cinema the recipients are recognized for their ‘outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema’. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh.
