Asha Parekh honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Asha Parekh has been bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema. This was tweeted out today by Anurag Thakur, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting. The award will be presented by President Murmu at the 68th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, he further announced.
Among the previous recipients of the award are Devika Rani (the first, in 1969), Kanan Devi, Naushad, Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika, Shivaji Ganesan, Yash Chopra, Mrinal Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth (the latest, in 2019).
Asha Parekh made her debut as a 10-year-ol in the 1952 Bimal Roy film, Maa, following it up with Aasmaan in the same year. Her first film as a heroine was the Nasir Hussain directorial, Dil Deke Dekho, which also starred Shammi Kapoor.
Numerous hits followed, like 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).
With Raj Khosla’s Do Badan (1966) her screen image underwent a change and she was known for her performances in serious, tragic roles. Other well-known films which had Asha Parekh in serious roles include Chirag (1969), Kati Patang (1071) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).
In the 1990s, she successfully ventured into television, directing serials like Kora Kagaz and Dal Mein Kala Hain. Her credits as a television producer include Jyoti (Gujarati), Kora Kagaz, Palaash Ke Phool, Kangan and Kucchh Pal Saath Tumhara.
Asha Parekh has also worked in Gujarati, Punjabi and Kannada films.
