5 QUESTIONS
BILLBOARD
BOX OFFICE
MAKING WAVES
MEMORIES
MOVIES CHAT
QUOTE MARTIAL
REVIEWS
ROUGH CUTS
SHORT TAKES
SOUTHERN SPICE
THE LIST
WISH THE STARS
ARCHIVES

'I am glad the people and the government have not forgotten me'

Nidhi Taparia

"I cannot still believe it," exclaims Hrishikesh Mukherjee on winning the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. "I even asked the Minister, 'Do I deserve it?'!

"But it is a great honour for me. I feel very humble and honoured to be a part of the august gathering of people who have won this prestigious award before me."

Expressing his surprise, the director whose forte has been his flair for comedy on screen, added, "I never expected an award of such stature; neither have I waited for it. My innings have long been over. It's been 10 years since I retired from the industry."

It was Phalke Award winner Ashok Kumar who broke the news to him. Dadamoni said, "Mishti khavao! (bring sweets for me). He was very happy."

The moment is bittersweet, admits the noted film director: "My family and I are just recovering from our youngest son's death three months ago." His son had succumbed to a sudden asthma attack while travelling by train to New Delhi.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee will receive the award from the President on September 18 in Delhi, and remarks, "I am glad the government and the people have not forgotten me and my work."

The director does not see himself giving the arclights another shot. "The audience tastes have changed. If Sunil Gavaskar played in a test match right now, he might show flashes of his brilliance. But it will not be the same, right? Likewise with me..."