News yet to sink in: Salim Khan on award for 'Dabangg'

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) A joyful Salim Khan, an ace film writer, could not hide his happiness after news came Thursday that 'Dabangg' has won the national award for best wholesome entertainment, saying credit goes to his family and everyone else behind the venture.

'The news about the honour has yet to sink in. We are thrilled by the national recognition,' Salim Khan told IANS about the honour for 'Dabangg', which was produced by son Arbaaz Khan and featured son Salman Khan.

The two main role players - Salman and Arbaaz - were not available for comment as they were busy shooting. But speaking on behalf of his sons, Salim said the whole family and the movie unit worked very hard while making the movie.

'Our intention was to make a good, family oriented commercial movie. The audience response in India and all over the world proves that we succeeded, each one of us, from the stars to the people in the units,' said Salim in a joyful voice.

However, he admitted that the Khan family never expected the movie would bag a National Award at the 58th National Film Awards, announced in New Delhi Thursday.

The crest of the National Award was an honour to each person involved in making the movie, he said.

Salim said ever since its release, 'Dabangg' has moved from one conquest to another in the past few months and earned accolades.

'It has become the second biggest revenue earner in the history of Indian film industry. Its one song, 'Munni badnaam hui...' has broken all popularity records and entered the Guinness Book. The movie has already been recognized with many other awards and honours,' Salim said.

Incidentally, Salim Khan himself has written several top award-winning and popular movies like 'Sholay', 'Deewar' and many others in the 1970s and 1980s, including many jointly with Javed Akhtar.