Jaya Bachchan to be presented Deenanath Mangeshkar Award

Mumbai: Legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar will confer the Deenanath Mangeshkar Award to veteran actress Jaya Bachchan on April 24. Jaya will be presented with the Master Deenanath (Vishesh Puraskar) Award, for her dedicated services to Indian theatre and cinema on the death anniversary of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar. "I like all her films. I am fond of Bachchans and so are they," Mangeshkar told reporters here. Jaya played the role of a rising playback singer in Hrishikesh Mukherjee`s `Abhimaan`, modelled on Mangeshkar. "I remember she (Jaya) would come for my song recordings before she began shooting for `Abhimaan`. During my recordings she used to stare at me and I kept thinking as to why she is doing this. When I saw the film I noticed she had somewhere copied my gestures like the way I used to stand, adjust my pallu etc," the melody queen said. Master Deenanath Award, instituted in the name of Lata`s father, recognises service in the field of music and films. On April 24, veteran musicians, artists, actors, dramatists and social workers will be given the award, which consists of memento and cash prize of Rs 1,01,001. Suresh Wadkar and Vandana Gupte will be rewarded for their contribution to Marathi theatre and cinema. The 83-year-old singer is known to be a great fan of cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar and when asked why he has never been honoured with the Deenanath Mangeshkar award, she said, "This is because as of we have not given awards in the category of sports. But we would definitely like to give an award to him." PTI