For outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, Waheeda Rehman will be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2021.
- The actor, born on February 3, 1938 in Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu, made her debut in Tamil film Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, but it was Rojulu Marayi (1955) in Telugu that released first.
- Backed by Guru Dutt, she entered Hindi cinema with CID (1956), which had Dev Anand as the protagonist, in a meaty role.
About Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- The award, named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke who is revered as the Father of Indian cinema, was instituted in 1969.
- To honour the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the National Film Awards named the most prestigious and coveted award of Indian Cinema after him. He is the man who made the first Indian Feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913.
- Popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, he then went on to make 95 films and 26 short films in a span of 19 years.
- The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969 by the government to recognise the contribution of film personalities towards the development of Indian Cinema.
- The first recipient of this award was Devika Rani. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs. 10,00,000.
