Guwahati: The Dadasaheb Phalke was awarded to veteran performer Asha Parekh on Friday.
The actor received the honour during the 68th National Film Awards in New Delhi from President Droupadi Murmu. Asha Parekh was grateful for the recognition and added, “Receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is a great honour. I’m quite appreciative that I received the award so close to my 80th birthday.”
Asha Parekh, one of the most honoured actors in the nation, was born on October 2, 1942. Asha Parekh, who is regarded as one of the most important actors in Hindi film history, began her career as a child actor using the stage name “Baby Asha Parekh.”
Asha Parekh made her debut in films as the female lead in the film ‘Dil Deke Dekho’ in 1959 alongside Shammi Kapoor. She was only 16 at the time.
She worked in many hit films after that – ‘Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai’ (1961), ‘Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon’ (1963), ‘Teesri Manzil’ (1966), ‘Baharon Ke Sapne’ (1967), ‘Pyar Ka Mausam’ (1969), and ‘Caravan’ (1971) to name a few, only to be called the ‘Hit Girl’ later.
She also appeared in a few Gujarati movies, the most successful of which was “Akhand Saubhagyavati.”
She served as the Cine Artistes’ Association’s president between 1994 through 2000. She was also the Central Board of Film Certification’s first female chair. She worked there from 1998 to 2001.
Asha transitioned into directing and producing television series after retiring from acting in 1995. She was given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
She received the Padma Shri award in 1992.