Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that Hindi film megastar Amitabh Bachchan , who was unable to attend the National Film Awards ceremony on Monday due to being unwell, will be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on December 29. Javadekar said that Bachchan will be presented the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by President Ram Nath Kovind in a brief ceremony on 29 December.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2018 was to be given to Amitabh Bachchan, Hindi film star, for his outstanding contribution to the film industry, but Bachchan could not attend the ceremony due to being unwell. Javadekar said that as the President is out of the capital today, a ceremony has been organized in Rashtrapati Bhavan on 29 December to honor the National Film Award winners. Bachchan will also be honored at the same time.
Bachchan tweeted on Sunday, expressing his inability to reach Delhi to receive the honor due to ill health. He tweeted,"Down with fever .. ! Not allowed to travel .. will not be able to attend National Award tomorrow in Delhi .. so unfortunate .. my regrets"
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, started in the year 1969, is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke who is called the father of Indian cinema. Under this award, a Swarna Kamal, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10,00,000. In 2017, the award was given to the late actor Vinod Khanna. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented the National Film Awards to the winners on Monday. Traditionally, the National Award is given by the President to the winners.