Bollywood superstar Raveena Tandon received the coveted Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honour, in a glittering ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Draupadi Murmu presented the award to the actress for her outstanding contribution to the arts.
The occasion was bittersweet for Raveena, as she couldn’t help but feel emotional about her father’s absence. In a recent interview, she opened up about how her father always dreamed of the day she would receive the Padma Shri, and how proud he would be of her achievements.
“It was definitely an emotional moment for me because it was something that my father had always dreamt and thought that it is going to be a proud moment (for him) whenever I get the Padma Shri honour,” she said. “I did get the honour, but unfortunately, he is not here to see it. So, getting the honour was mixed emotions for me. It came with a bit of happiness and a bit of more happiness. More happiness was when I was thinking about him and saying (to myself) that at least, I fulfilled my dad’s dream.”
Despite the emotional turmoil, Raveena was proud to have her children witness her receiving the award. “It was very special that my children could see me go and get my Padma Shri in front of the nation. And I hope they are proud children today as I’m a proud parent whenever I see them get their top grades or when they get honoured at school. I’m happy that they have always made me proud. I’m happy today, and I think I have made my whole family proud,” she shared.
This award is just the latest recognition of Raveena’s illustrious career in Bollywood. She has acted in over 100 films and has won numerous awards, including a National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Daman.
In response to her Padma Shri award, Raveena expressed her gratitude to the Indian government for acknowledging her contributions to the arts. “Honoured and grateful. Thank you so much, Government of India, for acknowledging my contributions, my life, my passion and purpose – cinema and the arts, that allowed me to contribute, not only to the film industry, but also beyond. I thank all those who guided me through this journey of Art and Craft of Cinema – all those who held my hand through it, and all those who watched me from their place above. I owe this to my father – Ravi Tandon,” she wrote on social media.
Raveena’s remarkable career and her contributions to the Indian film industry have made her an inspiration to many. She continues to be a role model to aspiring actors and actresses, and her legacy is sure to live on for years to come.
