It was in 1969 that Amitabh Bachchan made his big screen debut with Saat Hindustani, and four decades later, he is still busy entertaining the audience with his performances. At 76, Big B has just added another feather to his already-bejewelled cap: Amitabh Bachchan has been selected for the Dada Saheb Phalke award for the year 2018 for his contribution to the Indian film industry.

Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar took to Twitter to make the big announcement.

He wrote, "The legend Amitabh Bachchan who entertained and inspired for 2 generations has been selected unanimously for #DadaSahabPhalke award. The entire country and international community is happy. My heartiest Congratulations to him."

The legend Amitabh Bachchan who entertained and inspired for 2 generations has been selected unanimously for #DadaSahabPhalke award. The entire country and international community is happy. My heartiest Congratulations to him.@narendramodi @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/obzObHsbLk Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) September 24, 2019

The announcement was delayed this year on account of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The National Film Awards announcements this year too were postponed by a few months.

Speaking to India Today Television, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar said, "Main kya kahun unke [Amitabh Bachchan] baare mein. Poori duniya kehti hai ki woh bahut bade artiste hai, aur bahut achche insaan hain. Mujhe unki saari filmein pasand hai. Lekin unhone Anand mein bada achcha kaam kiya hai."

Filmmaker Karan Johar was the first one to congratulate Big B on social media, calling him a bonafide rock star. KJo wrote, "The most inspiring legend of Indian Cinema!!!! He is a bonafide rock star!!! I am honoured and proud to be in the Era of AMITABH BACHCHAN! The prestigious #DadaSahebPhalkeAward to @SrBachchan."

The most inspiring legend of Indian Cinema!!!! He is a bonafide rock star!!! I am honoured and proud to be in the Era of AMITABH BACHCHAN! The prestigious #DadaSahebPhalkeAward to @SrBachchan https://t.co/wPepdsbugL Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 24, 2019

Amitabh Bachchan, who is unstoppable at 76, is busy with innumerable projects. If he is playing a khadoos landlord in Gulabo Sitabo with Ayushmann Khurrana, he is also part of an adventure fantasy drama called Brahmastra along with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

Bachchan, whose body of work is unparalleled in Hindi cinema, has been honoured with four National Film Awards, for the films Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku. He also received the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

The Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, was conferred on the late Vinod Khanna in 2017.

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