The renowned Dadasaheb Phalke Award was given to screen legend Waheeda Rehman on Tuesday, making her the seventh woman to win it.
the greatest honor in Indian cinema, which she gave to her "dear film industry" and its different divisions.
Filmmaking, according to the seasoned actor who entered the stage to a standing ovation from the A-list crowd, is a collaborative effort.
She said, "I feel very honoured and humbled... But whatever I have achieved today, it is because of my dear film industry.
"I got to work with top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, writers, dialogue writers, music directors and musicians," Rehman said in her acceptance speech.
Waheeda added, "I am sharing this award with all the departments of the film industry. They gave me a lot of respect, support and love from the very beginning. A film is not made by just one person, we need each other."
President Murmu spoke about how Rehman refused to change her name as a newcomer in the film industry.
Ms.Waheeda Rehman played roles of women who broke shackles. .
Ms. Waheeda Rehman Ji has demonstrated that in order to advance women's emancipation, women must take the lead.
A jury of five people, including a personal acquaintance and last year's winner, chose Ms. Waheeda Rehman for the prestigious honor.
Asha Parekh, who received the Dadasaheb Award last year, Chiranjeevi, Paresh Rawal, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and director Shekhar Kapur are close friends of Waheeda Rehman.
With Dev Anand as her co-star in Guru Dutt's 1956 film "CID," Ms. Waheeda Rehman made her Hindi film debut and went on to have a distinguished career.
The timeless songs "Pyaasa," "Kaagaz ke Phool," "Chaudhvin Ka Chand," "Guide," and later blockbusters like "Kabhi Kabhie" and "Khamoshi" are all by Ms. Waheeda Rehman.
The announcement of the Dadasaheb Phalke award fell on September 26, 2023, the same day of her "Guide" and "CID" co-star Dev Anand's 100th birthday.
The Telugu films "Rojulu Marayi" and "Jayasimha" from 1955 marked Ms. Waheeda Rehman's debut in the film industry. She has since worked on more than 90 films in other languages.