Padma Shri Priyadarshan & Padma Bhushan Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra speak

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

January 27, 2012 - 5:00 PM IST

Padma Shri Priyadarshan & Padma Bhushan Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra speak

For most of their friends in the film industry, the Padma Shri for the prolific director Priyadarshan and the Padma Bhushan for the illustrious actress Shabana Azmi, the veteran actor Dharmendra and the filmmaker Mira Nair have come a little too late

Priyadarshan disagrees. "Why do you feel it's come too late? Everything happens in the right time. Until a few years back, I hadn't received a single National Award. Then I got it for Kancheevaram which many consider my career's best. But I feel every recognition comes when it is meant to come. The Padma Shri is important for me at this juncture because I'm not in a space where I make both kinds of films, the artistic and the commercial. If I am proud of Kancheevaram, I'm also not ashamed of De Dana Dan. It's the so-called slapstick comedies that have given me the freedom to make the other kind of films. I'll continue making both kinds of films. I've treated every failure as a means to correct myself and every success as a means to better myself. There is no respite from work for me. As I speak to you I am editing my new film Tezz."

Padma Shri Priyadarshan & Padma Bhushan Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra speak

Priyan is happy that Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi have been given the Padma Bhushan. "I've watched their films from the time when I was young. It's actors like them who inspired me to become a filmmaker. I'd love to direct both of them."

Shabana who went through a string of mishaps in December feels January has brought joyful tidings. "What really tickles me is that my husband Javed Akhtar and I both are Padma Bhushans now. So we are Mr.& Mrs Padma Bhushan. Do you know, when I got the call from President's office informing me that I had got the honour I put the phone down and I didn't say a word to either my mother or brother who were in the room with me. Because the person who called said to keep it to myself. Since then my mother has been screaming at me for not telling her. The first person I thought of when I was informed of the Padma Bhushan was my father. I wish my father was here. He would've been so proud of me. Did this honour come too late? I don't think so. For an artiste recognition at any time is welcome. This is what my parents and my acting teacher Roshan Taneja have taught me. An artiste never works for an award. And when it comes, she accepts it gracefully. And this comes from the Government of India, so it's a double humour."

Dharmendra who also gets the Padma Bhushan was overwhelmed. "Recognition has started coming a little too late in my career. I am happy. Very happy. But more than me its family and well-wishers who are happy for me. Ever since the announcement was made, my phone has not stopped ringing. People are dropping in to express their joy. So the greatest award for me will always be the love of the people. I will continue to try to do good work."

Reacting to the winners this year, Padma Shri Kamal Haasan says, "Some of the winners are my seniors whom I am very fond of. The rest are my friends. I feel very proud of them. As someone who has always admired their work, I am happy the government too has acknowledged their contribution."