The 34 year old actress, will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award – India’s highest honor in the field of Cinema, in a newly introduced Internationally Acclaimed Actress’ category for being an ‘international icon.’
 |
| Wikimedia Commons |
The chairman of Dadasaheb Phalke Academy and Award committee Ganesh Jain said in a statement, “Priyanka’s hard and sincere efforts have helped her place herself on an international platform with grace. She is representing India at a global level and that has made every Indian proud of her work. This compelled us to introduce this fresh category in the awards.”
Instituted in 1969, the award has been handed over for a total of 48 times as of 2016, with the most recent recipients being industry veterans like Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Manoj Kumar, Pran and veteran director and audiographer Kasinadhuni Viswanath.
Priyanka will be the 48th and one of the youngest recipients of the honor.