The award is named after filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke, director of India’s first full length feature film Raja Harishchandra. The winner gets a shawl, a cash prize of Rs1 million and a golden lotus medallion. First presented in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke award recognizes and honours contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema. Previous recipients include music director Naushad, singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, actors Ashok Kumar and Dilip Kumar, filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee, lyricist Gulzar and director Yash Chopra.
The actor, who celebrated his 77th birthday last week, began his acting career at the age of four with plays directed and produced by his father Prithviraj Kapoor. As a child artist, his best known performances came in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951). He made his debut as a leading man in 1961’s Dharmaputra, after which he went on to appear in more than 100 films during the 1960s and 1980s.
He was also one of India’s first actors to appear in international films. His most notable British and American films include Shakespeare Wallah (1965), Bombay Talkie (1970) and Heat and Dust(1982).
In 1978, Shashi established a production house by the name of Film Valas, which has produced several critically acclaimed films including Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Vijeta (1982) and “Utsav” (1984).
He has been the proud recipient of three National Film Awards. In 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award which recognizes distinguished services to the nation in all fields.
After the death of his wife Jennifer Kendall in 1984, Shashi began to retreat from public view, appearing in fewer films. He is now seldom seen in public, making appearances only on rare occasions.
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