New Delhi: Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman was named the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed delight over the veteran actor being bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award.
PM Modi took to X and congratulated the actor, he wrote, "Delighted that Waheeda Rehman Ji has been honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. Her journey in Indian cinema has left an indelible mark. A beacon of talent, dedication and grace, she embodies the best of our cinematic heritage. Congratulations to her.”
The Prime Minister was reacting on a post by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, announcing the decision earlier in the day.
Waheeda Rehman reacted to the news and said she was thrilled to get the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award and termed it a "double celebration" as the announcement coincided with her 'Guide' co-star Dev Anand's 100th birth anniversary.
"I'm very happy and doubly happy because it is Dev Anand's birthday. I think, 'taufa unko milna tha, mujhe mil gaya'. It is very wonderful that his celebration is going on and I get this honour. I'm really happy and grateful to the government that they chose me for this honour. So it is a combination and celebration of this and Dev sahab's 100th birth anniversary," she was quoted as saying by PTI.
The 85-year-old, whose filmography includes all-time classics 'Pyaasa', 'Kaagaz ke Phool' and 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand' as well as later hits such as 'Kabhi Kabhie' and 'Khamoshi', said she did not expect any award.
"I'm not working these days. I don't expect anything, I never expect any award. I think, 'milna hai toh milega', if they think it is right for me I'll get it, that's all," she told PTI.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur had announced that Rehman was getting the Dadasaheb Phalke, the government's highest recognition in the field of cinema, on his official X account.
In a career spanning over five decades, Rehman, who made her acting debut with the 1955 Telugu films 'Rojulu Maraayi' and 'Jayasimha', worked in more than 90 films across languages. Her last film was the 2021 sports drama 'Skater Girl'.
She received a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in 'Reshma and Shera' (1971). She has also received a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.