Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut bag National Awards

They are currently hogging the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut enjoyed a controversy-free moment in New Delhi when they received their National awards for best actor and actress, respectively, from president Pranab Mukherjee.

While Amitabh Bachchan bagged his award for his performance as a hypochondriac in Piku (2015), Kangana Ranaut picked up her second successive best actress award for her stellar performance in Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015).

Amitabh Bachchan turned up looking dapper in his typical bandhgala suit while Kangana Ranaut looked resplendent in a blue gown. President Mukherjee presented the awards to all winners. The entire Bachchan family was present to cheer for the veteran actor.

Kangana Ranaut said she was proud to receive the honour in the same year as Amitabh Bachchan. She was accompanied by her mother Asha Ranaut, who told the Press Trust of India, “I am proud of Kangana and her achievements. I am very happy that she is at the peak of her career and has got here only with her hard work."

The senior Ranaut also played down her daughter’s spat with Hrithik Roshan. “The whole controversy is nonsense," Asha Ranaut said. "We wouldn't want to comment on it. Our lawyers will speak about it. She is coming out stronger in these testing times.” 

Among others who received their awards from the president was veteran actor Manoj Kumar, who was conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali received the National award for Best Film for his Bajirao Mastani (2015), while Kalki Koechlin picked up the Special Jury award for her immaculate performance in Margarita, With a Straw (2015).