Mumbai, May 2: Veteran actress Mala Sinha did not turn up for the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award ceremony as she is upset with the award committee for disrespecting her.
She was to the receive Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award yesterday but there was no mention about her and the award on the invitation card.
“I was told I am getting Phalke Academy award but it is shocking that my name is not there and which award I will get is also not mentioned.
I did not ask for the award, they decided to give it to me. I am not aware which award I was getting, this is insulting. I am terribly hurt. I feel cheated,” Sinha told PTI.
The actress, who has has starred in over a 100 films including ‘Pyaasa' (1957), ‘Dhool Ka Phool' (1959), ‘Dil Tera Deewana' (1962), ‘Gumrah' (1963), ‘Himalaya Ki God Mein' (1965) and ‘Aankhen' (1968), says her name was announced along with legendary singer Asha Bhosle and late filmmaker Yash Chopra for Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards.
Sinha even attended the announcement press conference of this award ceremony on April 25 and was quite excited about it.
“I am happy that Asha and Pamela Chopra (Yash Chopra's wife) are getting awards. I am close to Asha, I am a big fan of her.
I am proud that they both are getting the award,” she said.
In the past, Sinha received quite a few awards for her power packed performance in films like ‘Jahan Ara', ‘Himalaya Ki God Mein' and others.
“My several films have been hit, I have got film awards, got love and acceptance of audience. I am happy with whatever I have achieved till now,” she said.
She has worked with Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan, Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan and others.
In most of her films from the 1960s, she got the first billing in the credits, even before the heroes, with exceptions being those with Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Pradeep Kumar and Kishore Kumar.
“My name during the film credits used to appear first even before the heroes, except Dilip Kumar. I was that big star, I was a legend. It feels sad that I am being treated like this,” she said.
However, Sinha is not contemplating action against the award committee.
