Rajinikanth, in true Rajini style, has dedicated his Dadasaheb Phalke Award to "all those who have been a part of (his) journey." The superstar, 70, is to receive the award - India's highest film honour - for the year 2019, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced today. Shortly after, Rajinikanth shared a thank you note on Twitter. He wrote: "My heartfelt thanks to the government of India, respected and dearest Narendra Modiji, Prakash Javadekar and the jury for conferring upon me the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. I sincerely dedicate it to all those who have been a part of my journey. Thanks to the almighty."
Read Rajinikanth's tweet here:
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
Rajinikanth also responded to a tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his award. The actor tweeted: "Immensely humbled and honoured with your greetings and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award respected and dearest Shri Narendra Modiji. My heartfelt thanks to you and the government of India."
Read PM Modi's tweet and Rajinikanth's response here:
Immensely humbled and honoured with your greetings and the most prestigious #DadasahebPhalkeAward award respected and dearest Shri @narendramodi ji. My heartfelt thanks to you and the government of india ???????? https://t.co/XT9X6paSNT
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 1, 2021
Rajinikanth's decades-long career includes credits such as Moondru Mudichu, Billu, Baashha, Sivaji and Enthiran. The actor has also starred in several Bollywood blockbusters such as Hum and Chaalbaaz. He was last seen in 2020's Darbar and his next release will be Annaatthe.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced in a tweet that Rajinikanth would receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award: "Happy to announce Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji. His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic." The jury that selected him for the honour was made up of singers Asha Bhosle and Shankar Mahadevan, actors Mohanlal and Biswajeet, and filmmaker Subhash Ghai.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 should have been announced last year but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous awardee was Rajinikanth's Hum co-star Amitabh Bachchan. Filmmaker K Balachander, who gave Rajinikanth his break in 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal, received the award in 2010.
