Sharing her experience of getting honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020, legendary actress Asha Parekh said that it’s a long time after which a lady has been accorded with this award.
Expressing the surprise and pleasure over receiving the Award, she said, “I am also the first Gujarati to get this award. So, it was a great thing for me but for 2 days it didn’t registered in mind. I was thankful firstly to God because it was too big a surprise for me”. Asha Parekh was speaking during the In-Conversation session at the 53rd International Film Festival of India in Goa.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 was accorded to Asha Parekh for her exemplary lifetime contribution to Indian Cinema. She was conferred with this highest award in India in the field of cinema by the President of India Droupadi Murmu at the 68th National Film Awards held on 30th September, 2022 in New Delhi.
During the session, Asha Parekh talked about her experience of working in various films such as Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Do badan, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki,Baharon Ke Sapneamong others.
Apart from acting, the renowned actress also spoke about how she explored her career in TV direction and production. She said that Gujarati serial- Jyoti which turned out to be a success, gave her confidence. This motivated her further to come up with more TV serials. Best remembered for her series, Kora Kagaz, Parekh’s other small screen offerings include Baaje Payal, Dal Mein Kaala and Kuch Pal Saath Tumhara.
Asha Parekh talked about her association with various organisations and associations related to film industry. She became President of Cine Artistes’ Association from 1994 to 2000. She was also the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) of India, holding the honorary post from 1998- 2001. She served as treasurer of Cine and Television Artists Association (CINTAA).
Asha Parekh is a renowned film actress, director and producer and an accomplished Indian classical dancer. Starting her career as a child actor she made her debut as the lead heroine in Dil Deke Dekho and has gone on to act in over 95 movies.
“Pyar Diwana Hota Hai, Mastana Hota Hai
Har Khushi Se Har Gam Se, Begana Hota Hai”
(Love is blind and crazy. It’s above all joys and sorrows)
As Kishore Kumar’s divine voice and Rajesh Khanna’s cult figure appeared once again on the screen of Maquinez Palace auditorium in Panaji accompanying this evergreen song, it was a heavenly moment for the audience. For the yesteryear actress and heart-throb Asha Parekh, who played the lead actress as well as acted in the song, being present at the screening of the film Kati Patang was a nostalgic trip down the memory lane loaded with heart-warming moments. Kati Patang was screened at the 53rd International Film Festival of India in the Dada Saheb Phalke Award Retro section. This section of IFFI is dedicated this year to Asha Parekh, the winner of Dada Saheb Phalke Award in the year 2020.
Participating in the screening and interacting to festival delegates, Asha Parekh said that through the years, IFFI has become much bigger and it gives an opportunity for producers to showcase and sell their films. “I love my film industry. For film lovers, IFFI is the best place to be, as it has got people from all over the country coming together”, she said. Asha Parekh also thanked IFFI, NFDC and Information & Broadcasting ministry for felicitating her.
Credited with many super hit films, Asha Parekh was fondly called the ‘Hit Girl’ of Hindi cinema in 1960s and 70s. Starting off as a child actor, her debut was with Dil Deke Dekho (1959) as the lead, which became a big hit, catapulting her into stardom. She went on to act in over 95 films, with some of the top filmmakers and leading actors of that time like Shakti Samanta, Raj Khosla, Nasir Hussain, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Dev Anand and many more. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Kati Patang (1971) and was the recipient of the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2002), along with many other prestigious recognitions. Asha is also a director, producer, and an accomplished Indian classical dancer.
Conferred with the Padma Shri (1992), she also served as the Head of the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during 1998-2001.
Kati Patang directed by Shakti Samanta was based on Gulshan Nanda’s best-selling novel of the same title. In the film, the protagonist, Madhavi (Asha Parekh) drifts like a kite running away from home on the day of her wedding to Kamal (Rajesh Khanna), only to discover the evil designs of her ‘beloved’ Kailash (Prem Chopra). Circumstances lead Madhavi to seek shelter in a house, pretending to be the daughter-in-law, now widowed. The actual daughter-in-law Poonam (Naaz) dies in a train accident but not before entrusting her child in the custody of Madhavi. The story follows Madhavi’s life as she dons a false identity. The film is also best remembered for bringing together music composer R.D. Burman and superstar Rajesh Khanna. It has got a collection of evergreen melodious hit songs to its credit like Yeh Shaam Mastani, Pyar Diwana Hota Hai and Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai.
