Smita Patil was a far better actress than me, says Rekha

Legendary actress Rekha, who received the first Smita Patil Memorial award in Mumbai, said the late actress was a far better performer than her.

Rekha was conferred with the award for her contribution to the field of cinema on Saturday.

"I am really glad that I am receiving the award in the name of Smita," the Rajya Sabha member said. "I also want to say that you all did the right thing that you decided to give the first-ever Smita Patil Memorial award to me, because I think only I have the right to receive this award."

Explaining her comment, Rekha said, "This award signifies the excellence of her [Smita Patil's] craft, which includes her acting ability, dancing ability or her ability to be fearless in front of the camera or in choosing her roles or the way she could just live that moment and make a statement on screen with her beautiful eyes without saying a single word.

"I am not saying this because I have won an award on her name. It is because I feel she had far more finesse and was brilliant as an actor. I realized this thing 30 years ago when I decided to watch all her films. Today, I can say that she was a far better actress than me and than anybody else."

Amruta Subhash, Prateik Babbar and legendary music composer Anandji Virji Shah were also present at the award function.

Rekha told Prateik, son of Smita Patil and Raj Babbar, "When you are in doubt just call me. I am here, but there is no way I can match up to her."