PIX: Vidya Balan receives her National Award

Vidya Balan, who starred in Milan Luthria's biopic The Dirty Picture, received her first National Award for The Best Actress from India's Vice President Hamid Ansari during the awards ceremony in New Delhi.

The actress's portrayal of Silk garnered her acclaim and a successful run at the box office.

The 59th National Awards ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan in the Capital on May 3.

The actress also caught up with actor/politician Shatrughan Sinha at the awards.

Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee waves to the gathering after receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2011 from Vice President Hamid Ansari (not in the picture) as Ambika Soni, I & B Minister looks on during the function.

The 77-year-old actor made his debut in Satyajit Ray's Apur Sansar and worked in evergreen classics like Charulata, Ghare Baire, Devi and Aranyer Din Ratri.

The National Award winner greets Soumitra Chatterjee at the ceremony.

Filmmaker Ashwim Kumar, whose controversial film Inshallah Football won the National Award for The Best Film on Social Issues, receives his citation from Hamid Ansari as Ambika Soni looks on.