Renowned actress Waheeda Rehman recently launching the official poster of Film Heritage Foundation's “Dev Anand @ 100 - Forever Young” film festival. Photo courtesy FHF's Facebook page.
New Delhi: Actress Waheeda Rehman, known for her roles in Bollywood classics such as Pyaasa, Guide, Chaudhavin Ka Chand, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam, Khamoshi and many more, will be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021, Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced here today. The award will be presented to the 85-year-old thespian during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.
Over the years, the veteran actress, who was born on February 3, 1938, in Chengalpattu in the Madras Presidency of British India,achieved what very few actresses of her time could. She made her Hindi cinema debut with CID (1956) which featured Dev Anand in the lead. They went on to work together in many classics including Solva Saal (1958), Kala Bazar (1960), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) and Guide (1965).
With her acting prowess, Waheeda Rehman went on to win a plethora of awards. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her roles in Guide (1965) and Neel Kamal (1968). The actress also won the National Award for Best Actress (1971) and was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972, later receiving the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Waheeda Rehman has worked in more than 90 films, in a career spanning over five decades and has received significant critical acclaim.
The following distinguished film actors and directors were part of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee:
- Asha Parekh
- Chiranjeevi
- Paresh Rawal
- Prosenjit Chatterjee
- Shekhar Kapur
Minister Thakur said that Waheeda, in her career spanning over 5 decades, had essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman 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 (Indian woman) who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hard work,” he said adding that he felt “immense happiness and honour” in announcing this award for her stellar contribution to Indian Cinema.
The Minister also noted that the award to the veteran actress comes close to the heels of the passing of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Bill). “At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded 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,” Thakur stated.
– global bihari bureau
