53 rd prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke life time achievement award to legendary heroine Waheeda Rehman coinciding with Dev Sahab’s 100 th Bday
The legendary actor and a hugely popular heroine of the Indian silver screen having acted in good number of Hindi and Southern language movies, born in 1938, 85 years old Waheeda Rehman who once used to be the heartthrob of millions have been chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur. This announcement of a prestigious award to Waheeda Rehman coincides with the 100 th birthday of the legendary star, renowned script writer, director and producer Devanand. Waheeda Rehman has commenced her film career by working in CID for the very first time during sixties with Devanand who was her not only a true guide and elder but also an actor who helped and inspired her towards acting by giving her every technical clue. The popular movie Guide in which both Devanand and Waheeda acted as hero and heroine proved to be the top super duper hit movie which actually brightened the career of both the stars. Guide was produced by Devanand himself.
Anurag Thakur while announcing her name for this prestigious award said : I feel an immense sense of happiness and honour in announcing that Waheeda Rehman ji is being bestowed with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her stellar contribution to Indian Cinema. Waheeda ji has been critically acclaimed for her roles in Hindi films, prominent among them, Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Chaudhavi Ka Chand, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guide, Khamoshi and several others. In her career spanning over 5 decades, she has essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clans woman in the film Reshma and Shera.
A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Waheeda ji has exemplified dedication, commitment and the strength of a Bharatiya Nari who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hardwork.
At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded with this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema and one who has dedicated her life after films to philanthropy and the greater good of society. I congratulate her and humbly pay my regards to her rich body of work that is an intrinsic part of our film history wrote Anurag Thakur on X, earlier Twitter. The prime minister Narendra Modi after reposting Anurag Thakur’s tweet wrote on his congratulatory message in X, earlier twitter : Delighted that Waheeda Rehman Jimmy has been honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. Her journey in Indiana cinema has left an indelible mark. A beacon of talent, dedication and grace, she embodies the best of our cinematic heritage. Congratulations to her tweeted prime minister.
