New Delhi, June 19: After superstar Amitabh Bachchan, it is now the turn of another superstar, Shahrukh Khan, to be honoured by the French Government.
Shahrukh Khan has been selected for France's top cultural award, Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters), a French Embassy press release said here today.
The award is in recognition of his exceptional career as well as his contribution to the development of Indo-French cooperation in cinema.
It puts Shahrukh Khan, whose recent film 'Don' was partially shot in Paris, in an illustrious club of actors that include Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.
In January this year, the French Government bestowed its highest civilian award, Legion d'Honneur, on Amitabh Bachchan for his contribution to Indian and international cultural life.
Describing Shahrukh as an actor of great talent and unmatched popularity, French Ambassador Dominique Girard said: ''The award also stands testimony to our gratitude to Mr Shahrukh Khan for his cooperation with the French cinema industry at a time when we are determined to further deepen the Indo-French collaboration in this field.'' The date for the award-presentation ceremony has not been decided yet.
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is given to citizens of France and also foreign nationals who have made significant contributions to arts and literature and to the development of culture and cultural understanding in France and throughout the world.
Previous winners from India include author Mahasweta Devi and artist S H Raza.
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