Rajnath presents Padma Vibhushan to Dilip Kumar

Mumbai, Dec.13 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday conferred Padma Vibhushan on veteran actor Dilip Kumar at latter’s residence here.

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also accompanied Home Minister Singh to confer the second-highest civilian award on the matinee idol, who turned 93 on December 11.

The announcement to honour Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and a few others with Padma Vibhushan was made by the government on the eve of Republic Day on January 25, 2015.

This year, the iconic actor has cancelled his birthday celebrations in light of the recent plight of Chennai, which has been savaged by incessant rains over the past few weeks.

On Twitter he wrote: “I have decided to forego all celebrations on my birthday as I am saddened by the tragedy that has swept the lives of so many in Chennai.”

The acting legend could not attend the special function held in Rashtrapati Bhavan in April when other Padma awardees were honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee.(ANI)