Asha Parekh honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, President and PM Modi congratulated
Veteran actress Asha Parekh was honored with the Dada Saheb Phalke award, Indian cinema’s highest honor, on Friday. President Draupadi Murmu presented 79-year-old Asha Parekh with the prestigious award at the 68th National Film Awards ceremony held here at the Vigyan Bhawan.
The senior actress said she felt blessed to receive the award a day before her 80th birthday. Last year, actor Rajinikanth received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019. He said: “It is a great honor to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
I received this honor just one day before my 80th birthday, and I am grateful for that. Asha Parekh, who received the 2020 award, said: “This is the best honor I have received from the Government of India. I thank the jury for this honor.”
The Indian film industry dubbed the actress the best place, saying that even after 60 years, she is still associated with films. And I would like to suggest to the youth of this world to have perseverance, determination, discipline and down-to-earthness
Congratulations to all the artists who received the award tonight. The president congratulated the outstanding personality of the cinema world and said that this award given to Parekh was also a tribute to “irresistible girl power”. Murmu said: “Congratulations to all the winners of the 68th National Film Awards.
My special congratulations go to Asha Parekh ji, who was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Despite many obstacles, our sisters of her generation have made a name for themselves in various fields. Parekh was selected for the honor by a five-member Dadasaheb Phalke Award selection committee.
The committee includes Asha Bhosle, Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon, Udit Narayan and TS Nagbharan. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said Parekh had inspired many women to pursue their dreams and the Union Minister said: “Devika Rani ji was the first winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Prize in 1969.
Today it honors actress Asha Parekh, who has entertained not only an Indian, but a global audience for decades. She brought Indian culture to every corner of the world. Asha ji, you have inspired many women to go ahead and get involved in cinema and various other fields.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Parekh’s fame paralleled that of then-actors Rajesh Khanna, Rajendra Kumar and Manoj Kumar. In her five-decade career, the actress starred in more than 95 films. These include films such as Dil Deke Dekho, Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyaar Ka Mausam, and Caravan.
