Veteran actor Asha Parekh will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2020, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema.

Parekh, 79, will be presented with the award during the 68th National Film Awards ceremony on September 30. 

The five-member Dada Saheb Phalke Award committee — comprising Asha Bhosle, Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon, Udit Narayan, and TS Nagabharana — decided on Parekh's name for the honour.

Last year, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 was conferred on Rajinikanth.

Honoured with Padma Shri in 1992

• Parekh, an eminent actor whose career spans close to five decades, started her acting career at the age of 10. 

• Known for starring in over 95 films that include ‘Dil Deke Dekho’, ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Teesri Manzil’, ‘Baharon Ke Sapne’, ‘Pyar Ka Mausam’, and ‘Caravan’, she is considered one of the most influential actor of all time in Hindi cinema.

• She started her career as a child artist with the 1952 film ‘Aasmaan’ and went on to star in Bimal Roy’s ‘Baap Beti’ two years later.

• Parekh made her debut as a leading lady in Nasir Hussain’s 1959 movie ‘Dil Deke Dekho’, in which she starred opposite Shammi Kapoor. 

• Also a director and producer, Parekh had helmed the acclaimed TV drama ‘Kora Kagaz’ in the late 1990s.

• The screen legend also served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from 1998-2001. 

• She came out with her autobiography, ‘The Hit Girl’, co-written by film critic Khalid Mohamed, in 2017.

• She was also honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the country, in 1992.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• 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.

• Dadasaheb Phalke Award is given to a film personality for his/her outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, certificate, silk scroll and a shawl.

Some of the previous awardees are:

• Amitabh Bachchan - 2018

• Vinod Khanna - 2017

• K. Viswanath - 2016

• Manoj Kumar - 2015

• Shashi Kapoor - 2014

• Gulzar - 2013

• Pran - 2012

• Soumitra Chatterjee - 2011

• K. Balachander - 2010.

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