NEW DELHI, Sept 27: Veteran Bollywood actress of yesteryear Asha Parekh, 79,
has been chosen as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year
2020, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced on Tuesday.
She will be the 52nd awardee of the honour. Southern film superstar Rajinikanth
was the last recipient of the award.
Asha Parekh is a retired actress, director, producer, classical dancer and
the first woman censor board chairperson. She was the most successful actresses
of the 1960s and 1970s. She has acted in more than 95 films and is a recipient
of Padma Shri.
She started her career as a child actor in 'Maa' (1952) when she was 10. Her
first major break was as lead actress in director Nasir Hussain’s 'Dil Deke
Dekho' (1959) starring Shammi Kapoor. Nasir Hussain and Asha worked together
in several hit films. Some of her masterpieces are 'Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai',
(1961), 'Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon' (1963), 'Teesri Manzil' (1966), 'Baharon Ke
Sapne' (1967), 'Pyar Ka Mausam' (1969), 'Caravan' (1971), 'Do Badan' (1966),
'Chirag' (1969) and 'Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki' (1978).
She produced 'Palash ke Phool', 'Baaje Payal', 'Kora Kagaz' and 'Dal Mein Kaala'.
She also directed the Gujarati serial Jyoti (1990).
About Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Instituted in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour given
in the field of Indian cinema. It is presented annually at the National Film
Awards ceremony.
Known as Dadasaheb Phalke, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke was an Indian producer.
He is considered as the Father of Indian cinema. His debut film Raja Harishchandra
was the first Indian movie, which was released in 1913.
