One of the most prestigious Awards in India, the National Filmfare awards held on September 30. The winners received the National Awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The 68th National Film Awards were announced on July 22 . Veteran Actress Asha Parekh honored with the Dada Saheb Phalke award. The National Award for Best Actor was jointly won by South Star Suriya for Soorarai Pottru and Ajay Devgn for Tanhaji. Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress Award for her role in Soorarai Pottru.
Asha Parekh in an interview said, “The time when this award has come… it feels great. It feels as if all my desires are now fulfilled... Initially when they (the government) told me I will be receiving this award, I could not believe that I am getting it. Today it feels that I have actually received the award." The veteran actor also thanked her fans and said in Gujarati, “I want to thank you all for this award. Thanks for supporting me…”
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She further said, "It is a huge honour to have received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. It makes me very grateful that the recognition comes to me just one day before my 80th 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."
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Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn who won the best actor award said, “I’m elated to win the Best Actor Award for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior at the 68th National Awards along with Suriya, who won for Soorarai Pottru.”
He further added, “As the producer of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, it gives me immense joy to receive an honour at the 68th National Film Awards for the best film that has provided wholesome entertainment. Tanhaji was exactly that. It is a good story of friendship, loyalty, family values and sacrifice. It has strong national sentiments, super VFX and a holistic approach in entertainment. I must share the honour with my director Om Raut, my co-producers, T-Series and my co-actors. Most of all, I thank my creative team who has contributed handsomely to making this a blockbuster and now a National Award winner.”
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