Information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said veteran actor Asha Parekh would be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2020. Parekh, 79, will be presented the award, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema, during the 68th National Film Awards ceremony to be held on September 30 in the national capital.

Thakur said the five-member Dadasaheb Phalke award committee comprising singers Asha Bhosle and Udit Narayan, actors Hema Malini, (BJP MP), Poonam Dhillon and Kannada films director T.S. Nagabharana decided on Parekh’s name for the honour.

Parekh is a renowned film actress, director and producer and an accomplished Indian classical dancer. Starting her career as a child actor in ‘Aasmaan’ (1952) and starred in Bimal Roy’s ‘Baap Beti’ two years later.

She made her debut as lead actress in Dil Deke Dekho (1959) opposite Shammi Kapoor, and went on to act in over 95 movies. She has acted in celebrated films like Kati Patang, Teesri Manzil, Love in Tokyo, Aya Saawan Jhoom Ke, Aan Milo Sajna, Mera Gaon Mera Desh and others.

She is considered one of the most influential actresses of all time in Hindi cinema. Parekh came out with her autobiography, The Hit Girl, co-written by film critic Khalid Mohamed, in 2017.

Also director and producer, Parekh had helmed the acclaimed TV drama ‘Kora Kagaz’ in the late 1990s. She was also the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from 1998 to 2001.

Parekh was honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award, in 1992.