Superstar Rajinikanth received his Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honour, from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan on Monday. After receiving the award, the iconic actor met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing a few photos from his meet with PM Modi, Rajinikanth wrote, "It is a great pleasure to meet and greet the esteemed President and the Prime Minister." In his speech after receiving the award, Rajinikanth remembered his mentor and guru K Balachander. "I dedicate this award to my mentor, guru K Balachander sir. I remember him with great gratitude and my brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad, who is like my father, brought me up teaching great values and injecting spirituality in me. My friend from Karnataka, bus transport driver, my colleague, Raj Bahadur. When I was a bus conductor, he was the one who identified the acting talent in me and encouraged me to join the cinema. All my producers, directors, technicians who worked with me and co-artists, distributors, executors, media, press, and all my fans. And, Tamil people, without them I am nobody. I thank the Tamil people who have given me my life. Jai Hind!"
After receiving the award, the Enthiran actor conveyed his gratitude to the Government for selecting him for the honour. He had also thanked his guru, late filmmaker K Balachander, his brother Satyanarayana Rao and a colleague from his days as a bus conductor. The 2.0 artist also extended a gratitude message for his fans and Tamil people.
[zombify_post]
