New Delhi: Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman, who ruled the silver screens during the 1960s and 70s has been named as the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award, this year. Her honours include a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. She is regarded as one of Hindi cinema's best actresses. In 1972, the Indian government awarded Rehman the Padma Shri, and he subsequently received the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Over the course of a career spanning more than five decades, Rehman has appeared in over 90 films. She has also gained substantial media attention.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and shared the announcement with a long statement. It reads as, "I feel an immense sense of happiness and honour in announcing that Waheeda Rehman ji is being bestowed with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her stellar contribution to Indian Cinema. Waheeda ji has been critically acclaimed for her roles in Hindi films, prominent among them, Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Chaudhavi Ka Chand, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guide, Khamoshi and several others. In her career spanning over 5 decades, she has essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in the film Reshma and Shera. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Waheeda ji has exemplified dedication, commitment and the strength of a Bharatiya Nari who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hardwork."
The statement further continues, "At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded with this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema and one who has dedicated her life after films to philanthropy and the greater good of society. I congratulate her and humbly pay my regards to her rich body of work that is an intrinsic part of our film history."
See the statement here:
Rojulu Marayi, a Telugu film from 1955, was Rehman's acting debut. She then gained popularity through her work with Guru Dutt on the romantic dramas Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), the musical romance Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and the drama Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Rehman had her breakthrough in the romantic drama Guide (1965), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and garnered appreciation from a wide audience. She received nominations for her parts in the comedies Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Khamoshi (1969), as well as another award for her work in the romantic thriller Neel Kamal (1968).
Rehman is a humanitarian in addition to her acting career. She supports education and represents Rang De, a group devoted to eradicating poverty in India.