Dilip Kumar honoured with Padma Vibhushan

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar was on Sunday honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award, by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The 93-year-old cine icon was bestowed with the honour at his residence here just two days after his birthday.

His close friend Udaya Tara Nayar and compiler of the actor's autobiography titled "The Substance and the Shadow" told IANS that he was felicitated on Sunday afternoon.

He was presented the Padma Vibhushan medallion, a certificate and a shawl by Singh.

Union minister of state for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore took to Twitter to congratulate the actor.

He posted: "Congrats to the screen legend @TheDilipKumar for being conferred Padma Vibhushan. His touching cinematic performances are inspiration for many."

In April, Dilip Kumar could not make it to the investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital, due to health issues.

With roots tracing back to Peshawar city in present-day Pakistan, Dilip Kumar, whose real name is Yusuf Khan, entered the Indian film industry in the black-and-white era and became a name to reckon with in the 1950s and 1960s.

He is credited for films like "Aan", "Daag", "Madhumati","Paigham", "Leader" and "Ram Aur Shyam".

After working for about six decades, he stepped away from the arclights in 1998. His last movie was "Qila".

The legend, who is credited with giving cinematic gems from the tragic story of "Devdas (1955)", the historical love saga "Mughal E Azam" to the dacoit drama "Ganga Jamuna", was presented the award in presence of Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his actress-wife Saira Banu.