Waheeda Rehman Dedicates Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Her "Dear Film Industry"
Waheeda Rehman, veteran Bollywood actress was honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke award, the greatest recognition in the film industry in India, during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to the iconic actress of Bollywood. On stage, the veteran actress could not help the tears that filled her eyes. She is the eighth female artist to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award.
While walking up to the stage to receive the award, the Kaagaz ke phool actress received standing ovation from the gathering. A short video portraying her career as an actress was played while she was on the stage. In the video, the Kabhi Kabhi actress was seen saying “I want people to remember me as a good human being”. She dedicated the highest recognition award to her “dear film industry”.
She said, “I feel very honoured and humbled. But whatever I have achieved today, it is because of my dear film industry. Luckily, I got to work with top directors, producers, film makers, technicians, writers, dialogue writers, music directors and musician”. She also mentioned the artists behind the scenes and mentioned, “and lastly, I would like to thank ,make up artists, hair dressers, costume makers. They have large contribution. I would like to share this award with all the departments in films”.
“I got a lot of support, respect and love from them”. She also added that a film was not only the hard work of any one person, but rather the result of a collective effort. She remarked that, “a film is not made by just one person, we need each other”.
Waheeda Rehman was chosen for the award by five-member jury which include, Asha Parekh, who is Waheeda Rehman’s close friend and Dadasaheb awardee of last year, actors like Chiranjeevi, Paresh Rawal, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Shekhar Kapur, who is a film maker.
Apart from Waheeda Rahman, other female artist who received the prestigious award were, Devika Rani, who was the first recipient of the award, Ruby Myers, who is also known as Sulochana, Kanan Devi, Durga Khote, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bosle and Asha Parekh.
