Rajinikanth to be honoured with 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award

The award for 2019 will be conferred to legendary actor Rajinikanth on May 3 along with the National Film Awards.

Announcing the award in New Delhi, the Minister said that the choice was unanimously made by the members of the Jury, which the Government accepted. The jury consisted of five members including Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Biswajit Chatterjee, Shankar Mahadevan and Subhash Ghai.

Congratulating Rajinikanthm PM Modi said: "Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality...that’s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you."

"It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him," Modi wrote sharing a photo with the legendary actor from their meeting a few years ago.

The superstar also thanked the Indian government for bestowing on him the country's highest honour in cinema.

In a tweet, he wrote: "My heartfelt thanks to the government of india, respected & dearest @narendramodi ji, @PrakashJavdekar ji and the jury for conferring upon me the prestigious #DadasahebPhalkeAward I sincerely dedicate it to all those who have been a part of my journey. Thanks to the almighty Folded hands."

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar also congratulated Rajinikanth and tweeted: "Heartiest congratulations @rajinikanth sir on being conferred with the nation’s highest honour in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award! You’re always an inspiration, very well deserved."

Hrithik Roshan, who featured as a child actor in Rajinikanth's 1986 movie Bhagwaan Dada, shared a still from the film and wrote: "My Dearest Rajinikanth sir, your aura and persona compliments the prestige of Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Makes me so happy to have yet another reason to celebrate YOUR legend. Lots of love and respect, as I continue to look up to your greatness."

Rajinikanth was earlier honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Padma Vibhushan (2016).

He received the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema at the 4th Vijay Awards.

At the 45th International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the "Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year".

Rajinikanth is widely regarded as one of the popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. His popularity has been attributed to his uniquely styled dialogues and idiosyncrasies in films, as well as his political statements and philanthropy.

Some of the other congratulatory tweets are below:

Actor Anil Kapoor wrote: "Congratulations @rajinikanthon the prestigious honour! You are a legend and an icon and an inspiration to us all! #DadaSahebPhalkeAward."

Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted: "Congratulations to the legend, bonafide entertainer and an exemplary artist on being conferred with this illustrious honour ...all my respect to @rajinikanth sir 🙏"

Tweets of congratulations also poured in from the likes of filmmaker Boney Kapoor and actor Sidharth Malhotra.