One Person Alone Doesn't Make A Film: Watch Waheeda Rehman's Speech

At the 69th National Film Awards ceremony in Delhi on October 17, veteran actor Waheeda Rehman was presented with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

The award was bestowed upon her by President Droupadi Murmu and Information and Broadcast Minister Anurag Thakur. Following her recognition, the iconic actor expressed her gratitude to the film industry by dedicating the award to it.

Waheeda Rehman's Winning Speech

After the honour, the actor in her speech said, "Honourable Minister Anurag Thakur ji aur saare jury members ka main bahut- bahut shukriyada karti hoon, unhone mujhe award diya. I feel very honoured and very humble. Aaj jis mukaam pe main khadi hai, ye saara meri pyaari industry ki vajah se hain. Mujhe luckily bahut ache top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, dialogue writers, music directors aur sangeetkaar, sabka bahut sahara mila, bahut izzat di, bahut pyaar diya."

She further added, "Akhiri mein, makeup artists, hair aur costume banane walon ka bhi bahut haath hota hain. Isliye main ye award apne film industry ke saare department ke saath share karna chahti hoon. Unhone mujhe shuru din se izzat di, pyaar diya aur bahut support kiya. Koi bhi ek insaan, ek poori picture nahi bana sakta. Un sabko hum sabki zaroorat hoti hai."

Her Initial Reaction

Earlier, Rehman expressed her initial surprise upon learning that she would be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award.  "I was packing to go somewhere, so it was a sudden surprise for me, and I couldn't believe it," she conveyed. She also extended her gratitude to the ministry for bestowing this esteemed award upon her, thanking her family, friends, fans, and colleagues.

In conversation with Hindustan Times, she likened the award to a delightful blend of appreciation and love, describing it as follows: "It's like gathering a thousand roses and placing them in a vase, then adding fragrance to it; the award is like that fragrance. I've dedicated many years to this industry, so awards are recognition that enhances the beauty of good work. All the appreciation and love from people come together in the form of an award."

Reflecting on her extensive career spanning nearly seven decades, Rehman emphasised that she never approached any project with the expectation of receiving an award for her performance. "I've done my work with dedication and passion. No one can predict a film's success or whether the audience will like it, so whatever I've done, I've done it with all my heart. I've always aimed to select diverse roles for my films, resulting in a variety of movies throughout my career," she stated.

Waheeda Rehman, aged 85, is celebrated as one of Indian cinema's most gifted and graceful actresses, known for her remarkable performances in iconic films such as Guide, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Chaudhvin Ka Chaand. She has received several accolades during her career, including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest cinematic honour, presented by the government.

The previous recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was Asha Parekh, a close friend of Waheeda Rehman.

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