The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 would be conferred on veteran Bollywood actor Asha Parekh, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said on Tuesday.
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The award will be presented at the 68th National Film Award ceremony, to be presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, on September 30. Announcing the decision, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said “I am honoured to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke selection jury has decided to recognise and award Ms. Asha Parekh for her exemplary lifetime contribution to the Indian cinema.”
An accomplished Indian classical dancer, Ms. Parekh has also been a director and producer. Starting her career as a child actor, she made her debut as the lead actress in ‘Dil Deke Dekho’ and went on to act in more than 95 movies. She has acted in celebrated films like ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Teesri Manzil’, ‘Love in Tokyo’, ‘Aya Saawan Jhoom Ke’, ‘Aan Milo Sajna’, and ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’.
Ms. Parekh, who also served as the head of the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) from 1998 to 2001, was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992. The decision to confer the 52nd Dadasaheb Phalke award on her was taken by a jury of five members – Asha Bhosle, Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon, T.S. Nagabharana, and Udit Narayan.
Last year, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 was conferred on Rajinikanth.