Veteran actor Rajinikanth will be the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019. Prakash Javadekar, Union minister for information and broadcasting, announced this on Twitter this morning.
Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 1, 2021
His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic
I thank Jury @ashabhosle @SubhashGhai1 @Mohanlal@Shankar_Live #BiswajeetChatterjee pic.twitter.com/b17qv6D6BP
The jury consisting of Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Subhash Ghai, Biswajeet and Shankar Mahadevan voted for the superstar to receive the honour.
Rajinikanth thanked prime minister Narendra Modi, Javadekar, the jury and god for the honour and dedicated it to all those who had been a part of his journey.
My heartfelt thanks to the government of india, respected & dearest @narendramodi ji, @PrakashJavdekar ji and the jury for conferring upon me the prestigious #DadasahebPhalkeAward I sincerely dedicate it to all those who have been a part of my journey. Thanks to the almighty 🙏🏻
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 1, 2021
Born Shivajirao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor in Bangalore before embarking on an acting career. He made his debut with K Balachander's Apoorva Raagangal (1975) and went on to work in the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada industries. He also worked in a number of Hindi films like Andhaa Kanoon (1983), Bewafai (1985), Chaal Baaz (1989) and Hum (1991).
By the 1990s, the actor had achieved superstar status both at home and internationally, with many fans believing him to be their ‘god’. Rajinikanth has won six Tamil Nadu State Film awards. He won the Filmfare South award for Best Actor for Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016.
The previous year's recipient of the Phalke award is Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth’s good friend and co-star in Andha Kanoon and Hum.
The congratulations poured in for the veteran from all industries.
My hearty congratulations to the Thalaiva shri @rajinikanth gaaru for being conferred the 51st Dadasaheb Palke Award! 🙏🏼🎉
— Venkatesh Daggubati (@VenkyMama) April 1, 2021
Finally a befetting recognition to our thalaivar Shri. @rajinikanth Feel happy and proud. Congratulations and kudos to the phenomenal actor for #DadasahebPhalkeAward
— resul pookutty (@resulp) April 1, 2021
I’m extremely happy to hear that Thalaivar superstar is receiving the prestigious #DadaSahebPhalke award. I don’t have the age to praise him. May his greatness live on forever! Guruve saranam 🙏🏼🙏🏼@rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/1OswgvmTYH
— Raghava Lawrence (@offl_Lawrence) April 1, 2021