Yash Chopra gets Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Yash Chopra is the recepient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2001, the highest honour given to the film industry.

Chopra said he was honoured to be chosen for the prestigious award and described it as "a blessing from God."

The director and producer, whose memorable films include Dhool Ka Phool, Waqt, Ittefaq, Deewar, Kabhi Kabhi, Trishul, Silsila, Chandni and Lamhe, said, "I am extremely happy to be chosen for the award. I have no words to express my feelings. It is a pleasant reward after nearly 51 years of my journey in films."

"I am elated my name has been included among the great luminaries whose films I have been watching for decades and to whom I have always looked up to," he added. "I am happy that my work has been appreciated."

Chopra's films have won five National Awards and various other awards.

The award, instituted in 1969 to commemorate the contribution made by India's first filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke to Indian cinema, carries a cash prize of Rs 200,000, a shawl and a Swarna Kamal.

Yash Chopra's elder brother, filmmaker B R Chopra, received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1998.

Yash Chopra last directed Dil To Pagal Hai after which he handed over the baton to his son Aditya and other young directors like Kunal Kohli. Yash Raj Films' most recent film was Kohli's Mujhse Dosti Karoge starring Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherji.

PTI, rediff Movie Bureau

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