Asha Parekh receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award

She was presented with the award by President Droupadi Murmu, at the 68th National Film Awards in Vigyan Bhawan, here.

Elated over receiving the prestigious award, Parekh said, “It’s a huge honour to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award. The recognition comes to me just one day before my 80th birthday. This is the best honour that I could have got from the Government of India.”

“I would also like to thank the jury for the recognition they bestowed upon me. I have been in the industry for the last 60 years, and still continue to attach with the industry in my own way,” she added.

Asha Parekh was the highest-paid actress of her time and was one of the most successful and influential actresses of all time in Hindi cinema.

Producer Subodh Mukherjee and writer-director Nasir Hussain cast her as the heroine in ‘Dil Deke Dekho’ (1959), opposite Shammi Kapoor, which made her a huge star.

It also started a long association with Hussain who cast her as his heroine in six more films: 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).

Parekh was primarily known as a glamour girl, excellent dancer and tomboy in most of her films until director Raj Khosla gave her a serious image by casting her in tragedienne roles in ‘Do Badan’ (1966), ‘Chirag’ (1969) and ‘Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki’ (1978).

In 2008, she was a judge on the reality show ‘Tyohaar Dhamaaka’. In 2017, her autobiography (co-written by Khalid Mohamed) titled "The Hit Girl" was released.