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The 2024 Presidential Awards, which took place on the occasion of March 23, witnessed many known and beloved faces being decorated with honours. Filmmaker Bilal Lashari, who was on the initial distinguished list of 694 individuals, was awarded the coveted Sitara-i-Imtiaz. The filmmaker, who has been riding high on the success of The Legend of Maula Jatt, has proven his mettle time and again with high-impact projects.
Taking to his Instagram, after being wished by many in the fraternity for the momentous milestone, the filmmaker shared two posts dedicated to the achievement. The first was a solo picture of Bilal wearing the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, beaming with pride. He also penned a note alongside.
The filmmaker stated, "It is with immense humility and pride that I accept the prestigious Presidential Award - the ‘Sitara-i-Imtiaz’ (Star of Excellence), a recognition among the highest civilian honours in Pakistan. This achievement is a reflection of our joint efforts, the continuous support of my family, and the love of my friends. I’m profoundly thankful to all who have been integral to this journey." In another post, he shared an image from the ceremony itself.
Vasay Chaudhry followed a similar route and shared two posts on Instagram. In the first, he posted a picture of the award itself (albeit one that seems to be from the internet) and he wrote alongside, "I am deeply thankful to the Government of Pakistan for awarding me with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. Gratitude is all I have. Thank you to everyone who has supported, loved and admired my work in all these years. My family, friends, relatives, colleagues, fans, and well-wishers. Each and every one of you is responsible for it." The second post he shared was a solo image of him beaming with pride after the event.
Amidst a reverberation of applause from the fraternity and well-wishers, Sajal Ali, too, shared her win with her fans on Instagram. Posting a video of her receiving the award, the actor wrote, "I am truly blessed and humbled to receive Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. My heartfelt thanks go out to God, my family and my fans. I owe everything to my mother, her hard work and prayers have brought me to where I am today. I am committed to making her proud through my continued hard work and determination."
Veteran actor Adnan Siddiqui, who received the Pride of Performance award, took to his Instagram to pen a lengthy note while also sharing a carousel post. The post itself contained a mix of a video of the star receiving the award, alongside images of him and the honour with which he was conferred. In his note, Adnan said, "As I sit down to write this note of thanks, I am overwhelmed with emotions. The journey to receiving the esteemed Pride of Performance award has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it has been a privilege to share it with you."
He continued, "I reflect on the last three decades that have passed by in a jiffy when I entered the industry with nothing but unyielding passion and focus. There were moments of doubt, gruelling auditions, rejections, and times when success seemed like a distant dream. Yet, through all of this, your applause and admiration kept me going. Your love for my craft inspired me to refine with every role, every episode—protagonist, antagonist or grey."
Adnan furthered, "I am deeply indebted to PTV, Anwar mamu (Anwar Maqsood sahib), Qasim Jalali sahib, and Fatima Surayya Bajia (Bajjo) who played pivotal roles in planting the seed of my acting career. It was Anwar mamu who introduced me to Jalali sahab and cast me in his long play Khwabon Ki Zanjeer. Qasim sahab and Fatima Suriya Bajia (bajo) then gave me the opportunity of a lifetime with Uroosa, which turned me into a star overnight. I am forever grateful to this trio for their guidance and mentorship. Today, as I stand here with this esteemed award, I want you to know that it belongs to you as much as it does to me. It’s a testament to the enduring bond we share, and to your faith in my abilities."
The actor added, "As I share this moment with you all, it is a bittersweet feeling. Afzal sahib's (papa) and Abdul Ghaffar sahab (chacha) absence is profoundly felt, and I find myself wishing they were here to witness this milestone with me. Their belief in me was my guiding light, and I carry their memory with me as I accept this honour. Thank you once again to each and every one of you for being an integral part of this remarkable journey. Grateful."
The currently controversial Rahat Fateh Ali Khan also took to social media to share his big win. Alongside a video of him decorated in the honours he received, the singer penned, "It is with profound gratitude that I accept the prestigious Hilal-i-Imtiaz and Sitara-i-Imtiaz awards bestowed upon me by the esteemed President. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my cherished family, friends, and devoted fans whose unwavering support has been my guiding light on this remarkable journey. Together, we stand in humble reverence, inspired to continue our pursuit of excellence."
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