Veteran actor Pran gets Dadasaheb Phalke award

Legendary actor Pran was honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari at his residence in in Bandra, a suburb in Mumbai.

Pran, 93, could not attend the ceremony in New Delhi due to ill-health. It is probably for the first time that an artiste was given the Phalke award at his home.

Best known for his portrayal of negative roles in Hindi movies like Milan, Madhumati, Kashmir Ki Kali, the veteran actor was honoured with a Swarna Kamal (golden lotus) medallion, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.

Wheel chair-bound Pran, dressed in a kurt-pyjama, was accompanied by his daughter Pinky and son Sunil.

"He was not well so it was our responsibility to give him the award at his place. He thanked everyone," Tewari said.

When asked if the felicitation came late, Tewari said, "There is a procedure that is followed for the awards. It is the jury that decides when to give the award."

Pran's children expressed happiness over the honour.

"He (Pran) is also happy. We all are happy that they came here to give the award. It feels good. We had a party and enjoyed," Pinky said.

The veteran actor was not keeping well since some time.

"He is better than before. He is fine," Sunil said.

When asked if the award came late, he said, "We don't want to get into all this."

Pran has acted in more than 350 films in a career spanning six-decades. Such was the magic of his unique on-screen villainy that people stopped naming their children Pran at the height of his fame. He ruled the industry from 1969 to 1982.

In the picture: Pran receives the Dadasaheb Phalke award by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari at his home, surrounded by his wife Shukla and daughter Pinky Bhalla and other family members: PIB

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