Veteran actress Asha Parekh honoured to receive Dada Saheb Phalke award just before her 80th birthday
India Today
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2020 was conferred to veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekh in New Delhi on September 30. It is the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema.
Veteran actress Asha Parekh was honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke award today (September 30) in New Delhi. This is the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema. The 79-year-old actress, best known for films such as Dil Deke Dekho, Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, and Caravan, is considered one of the most influential actresses of all time in Hindi cinema.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Asha Parekh with Dada Saheb Phalke award. After she was conferred with the award, she thanked the Government of India for the honour. She said, "I am grateful to receive this award just one day before my 80th birthday. This is the best honour I could get from the Government of India. I would like to thank the jury, I have been in the industry for the last 60 years and still continue to be attached in my own way."
Before conferring her with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, a short film as a tribute to the veteran actress was played. Her first acting project was Baap Beti. She made her acting debut as an adult in Dil Deke Dekho in 1959, opposite Shammi Kapoor. She had initially started her career as a child artist. Her other notable films include Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Teesri Manzil and Do Badan (1966), Kati Patang (1970), Caravan (1971), and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) among others. In the 90s, Asha featured in fewer films. She was seen in Professor Ki Padosan and Bhagyawan (1993), Ghar Ki Izzat (1994) and Andolan (1995). After she quit acting, she made her directorial debut with Marathi TV show, Jyoti.
Talking about not getting married, the 79-year-old icon had told Harper's Bazaar India recently, “I guess I was not destined to get married. Honestly, I would have loved to get married and have children, but it wasn’t meant to be. However, I have absolutely no regrets.”
Last year, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 was conferred to Rajinikanth. It is given in the memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, who is regarded as the ‘father of Indian cinema’.
