NTR film award for Waheeda Rehman

Hyderabad, March 31 (IANS) Veteran film actress Waheeda Rehman has been chosen for the NTR National Film Award for her contribution to the film industry.

The award named after popular Telugu actor and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, carries a cash award of Rs.500,000 and a citation.

A three-member award committee comprising K.B. Tilak, Jayasudha and Suryanarayana Monday announced Waheeda Rehman's name for the award.

Born in Hyderabad May 14, 1936, she started her career with Telugu film 'Jaisimha' in 1955, followed by 'Rojulu Maraayi'.

She later moved to Hindi film industry and became very popular. She acted in Hindi films like 'Pyassa', 'Kagaz Ke Phool', 'Chaudavin Ka Chand', 'Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam', 'Guide' and 'Neel Kamal'.

She won the Filmfare best actress awards twice for her performances in 'Guide' and 'Neel Kamal' and received the lifetime achievement award in 1994.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Minister for Information and Public Relation Anam Ramnarayan Reddy congratulated Waheeda for being chosen for the NTR award.

The NTR award was instituted in 1996 and its recipients so far include veteran actors like Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shivaji Ganeshan, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kumar and melody queen Lata Mangeshkar. The state government had discontinued the award in 2002. After a gap of four years, the awards were announced last year.

NTR, a popular Telugu film actor, had joined politics by launching Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in early 1980s. He came to power within nine months of floating the party. He died in 1996.