NEW DELHI: The greatest distinction in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, will be given to veteran actor Waheeda Rehman this year, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur announced on Tuesday. Rehman, who is regarded as one of India’s top actors, is best known for his roles in the films Pyaasa, CID, Guide, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Khamoshi, and Trishul. Thakur made the announcement on his official X account. The minister added, “I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction and pride in announcing that Waheeda Rehman ji is receiving the renowned Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema.Rehman, 85, made her acting debut in the Telugu films “Jayasimha” and “Rojulu Maraayi” from 1955. The 1956 Dev Anand-starring movie “CID” was her acting debut in Hindi. The renowned actor has appeared in more than 90 films in various languages over the course of a career spanning more than five decades. For her performance as a clanswoman in “Reshma and Shera” (1971), she won a National Film Award. She has already received the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan awards. Her receiving this lifetime achievement award at a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been approved by Parliament is a deserving tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian cinema who has devoted her life outside of the film industry to philanthropy and the betterment of society. In addition, Thakur wrote in his post on the microblogging website, “I congratulate her and respectfully offer my regards to her rich body of work that is an important part of our film heritage. Rehman last appeared in the coming-of-age sports drama “Skater Girl” in 2021.
