Aishwarya Rai humbled by Padma Shri

Aishwarya Rai says she is humbled by the Padma Shri awarded to her this year on Republic Day. Photo Credit: Sawf News

January 27, 2009, (Sawf News) - Aishwarya Rai says she is humbled by the Padma Shri awarded to her this year on Republic Day.

"I am very thankful for the privilege. I am humbled by it. I thank the high officers of our country because this has been accorded to me by them and our fellow people," she told reporters at the inauguration of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute in suburban Andheri on Monday.

"I hope to be able to live up to the promise of it. I am very grateful and will continue doing my best," she added.

Commenting on the award a proud Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya's father-in-law, recalls on his blog today that he has been in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where National Award winners are honored by the President in a magnificent investiture ceremony, four times already.

"I have been in there 4 times. Once to see my Father receive the Padma Bhushan, twice when I received the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan and once to see Jaya get the Padma Shri," Bachchan writes.

"Now we shall be proudly entering the magnificent portals of this majestic structure to see Aishwarya receiving this decoration. Actually… I have been there one more time. It was when the King of Morocco decorated me with their medal of Honor, on one of his official visits to our country."