Bachchan on Dadasaheb Phalke Award win: Deeply grateful and humbled
Amitabh Bachchan, who was "selected unanimously" for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, took to Twitter to express that he feels "deeply grateful and most humbled" for this honor. His tweet came seven hours after Minister of Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar announced the news yesterday. "There's a paucity of words searching a response .. for the generosity of words that pour in," he wrote.
T 3298 - There is a paucity of words searching a response .. for the generosity of words that pour in ..
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) September 24, 2019
I am but deeply grateful and most humbled .. my sincerest gratitude ..
कृतज्ञ हूँ मैं , परिपूर्ण , आभार और धन्यवाद ... मैं केवल एक विनयपूर्ण , विनम्र अमिताभ बच्चन हूँ pic.twitter.com/ESfV7ms6fZ
The actor will be given a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs. 10L. He is, however, not new to these accolades. Among other honors, the actor won National Awards for Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, while in 2001 and 1984, he got the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, respectively.
Javadekar, while making the announcement about "The legend Amitabh Bachchan" winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award said, "The entire country and international community is happy. My heartiest Congratulations to him." Soon the news spread like wildfire, and congratulatory messages started pouring in from every corner of the country, including from Bollywood, politicians, and other personalities. Superstar Rajinikanth noted, "You richly deserve this commendable honour !"
There is no mention of Indian cinema without this Legend! He has redefined cinema with every role deserves every accolade for his innumerable contributions! Congratulations @SrBachchan! #DadaSahebPhalkeAward https://t.co/sBJ7aHlGCI
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) September 24, 2019
The most inspiring legend of Indian Cinema!!!! He is a bonafide rock star!!! I am honoured and proud to be in the Era of AMITABH BACHCHAN! The prestigious #DadaSahebPhalkeAward to @SrBachchan https://t.co/wPepdsbugL
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 24, 2019
In his 50th year in the film industry, on the eve of his 77th birthday, his exceptional body of work is at last acknowledged by India's highest honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Richly deserved long overdue. Congratulations, @SrBachchan! 🙏👏🙌 pic.twitter.com/qtx753Pu9p
— Siddhartha Basu (@babubasu) September 25, 2019
Apart from these, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister Smriti Irani, veteran Congress leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, among others rushed in with their congratulatory messages. While Naidu called him an inspiration, Irani stated, "no one deserved the #DadaSahebPhalkeAward more." "Your legendary contribution to Indian cinema will continue to inspire crores of people," wrote Goyal.
Chupke Chupke, Abhimaan, Sholay, Trishul,
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) September 24, 2019
Satte pe Satta, Hum, Agnipath...
Countless memories, performances revered, records made broken. A legend , an actor par excellence @SrBachchan ... no one deserved the #DadaSahebPhalkeAward more🙏
Heartiest congratulations to one of the greatest icons of the country, Amitabh Bachchan ji, for being selected for the prestigious #DadaSahebPhalkeAward
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 24, 2019
Your legendary contribution to Indian cinema will continue to inspire crores of people @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/zuk2x2MFm6
Bachchan's son Abhishek said he is "Overjoyed and so, so proud!," while his daughter Shweta wrote on Instagram, "Whose your Dada (Saheb Phalke)? Uncontainable excitement, pride, tears, and general hysteria!Congratulations Papa." Last year, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema, was bestowed upon Vinod Khanna posthumously, Bachchan's co-star in movies like Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, etc. Khanna died in April 2017.
Now a bit about Bachchan's career. He debuted with Saat Hindustani in 1969. Anand (1971) followed, but Rajesh Khanna's super-stardom eclipsed Bachchan's performance. He couldn't deliver much until Zanjeer happened, and then there was no stopping him. His success run however received a jolt in 1983, when he faced a life-threatening accident on Coolie sets, and was later diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis.
Bachchan quit films, and joined politics for three years, which didn't really prove to be a smart move. He returned to films with Shahenshah in 1988, a box office hit, but again a period of lull struck him, until Agneepath happened, for which he won the National Award. Several flops followed, and Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years. In 1996, ABCL was launched.
The production company was the biggest jolt for Bachchan. Just within a year, it incurred losses worth millions, faced legal battles with the Bombay HC restraining Bachchan from selling off Prateeksha and two flats till recovery is done. Then as the century turned, so did Bachchan's fortunes. In 2000, he appeared in Mohabbatein and hosted KBC, and the rest is history. Congratulations, Sir!
