53rd Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award To Waheeda Rehman

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on 26 September 2023 announced to honor renowned actress Waheeda Rehman with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021.

Waheeda Rehman will be presented this award during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.

• Waheeda Rehman in her career spanning over 5 decades, she has played her roles beautifully, due to which she was awarded the National Film Award for her role as a Kulvadhu in the film Reshma Aur Shera.

Selection Committee Members:

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award selection committee included famous actors like Asha Parekh, Chiranjeevi, Paresh Rawal, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Shekhar Kapur.

Awards and Honors received by Waheeda Rehman:

The award given after the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill shows respect for women:

• Announcing this award to the renowned actress so soon after the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a true tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian cinema, who has dedicated her life to philanthropy and the betterment of society after films.

Last year's Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 was given to famous actress Asha Parekh.
• Whereas before this, Rajinikanth (2019) and Amitabh Bachchan (2018) had been given this award.

Brief biography of Waheeda Rehman:

• Born: 3 February 1938
• Place of Birth: Born in a Tamil-Muslim family in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu state.
• Waheeda's father was posted on a high post like District Magistrate. But Waheeda's father died only 9 years after her birth, i.e. in the year 1948. His mother also passed away seven years after his father's death.
• A year after her father's death, Waheeda entered the cinema world with the role of a child artist in a Telugu film 'Rojulu Marai'.
• She came in contact with the famous Hindi cinema actor and producer-director Guru Dutt and became famous on the silver screen.
• Waheeda Rehman did a film named 'Shagun' in 1964. Her co-star in this film was Kamaljeet Singh.
• She married Kamaljeet Singh in 1974. Kamaljit Singh's real name was Shashi Rekhi.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

• The award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who presented India's first film Raja Harishchandra in the year 1913.
• This award is considered the highest honor of the Indian film industry.
• The award is given for "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema".
• The award was started in 1969 by the Government.
• Devika Rani Roerich was honored with this award for the first time in the year 1969 itself.
• The award carries a 'Golden Lotus', a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a certificate, a silk plaque and a shawl.

The award is given by?

• The award is presented by the President of India in the presence of senior officials including the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chairman of the Jury, representatives of the Film Federation of India and the Confederation of All India Cine Employees.

Dhundiraj Govind 'Dadasaheb' Phalke:

• Born: 1870 in Trimbak, Maharashtra.
• He studied engineering and sculpture and became interested in motion pictures after watching the silent film 'The Life of Christ' released in 1906.
• In 1913, Phalke scripted, produced and directed India's first feature film (silent), Raja Harishchandra.
• Phalke is also known as the "Father of Indian Cinema".