New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu presented prestigious award Dada Saheb Phalke award to Bollywood veteran actress Asha Parekh at the 68^th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.

She was honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema. After receiving the award the actress said that it is a huge honour to have received the Dada Saheb Phalke award. It makes me very grateful that the recognition comes to me just one day before my 80^th birthday.

This is the best honour I could get from the Government of India. I would like to thank the jury for the recognition that they have bestowed upon me, my long journey and fulfilling the journey in the film industry, she said.

The five member Dada Saheb Phalke Award committee   comprising Asha Bhosle, Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon, Udit Narayan, and TS Nagabharana  selected her for the highest award.

She started her acting career at the age of 10 with the 1952 film Aasmaan. In a career spanning over five decades, she starred in over 95 films that include titles such as Dil Deke Dekho, Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyar Ka Mausam, and Caravan. She made her debut into films as a child artist with 1952’s 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. She also act as director and producer as well, Parekh had helmed the acclaimed TV drama Kora Kagaz that aired in the late 1990s.

She was the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). She served from 1998-2001.  She was also honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the country, in 1992.