While wishes have been pouring in for the ace performer, ETimes reached out to Saira Banu who has all great things to say about Vyjayanthimala. She said, “I am so happy about this…the award is truly well deserved…I have grown up watching her films and she is ‘akka’ (elder sister ) to me.”
Apart from her, Telugu actor Chiranjeevi was also awarded with Padma Vibhushan. Meanwhile, Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup and others were honoured with Padma Bhushan awards.
Vyjayantimala Bali on veteran actor Dilip Kumar’s demise
She started her acting career in Tamil cinema and later moved to Hindi cinema, where she became a prominent figure in the 1950s and 1960s. During a time when Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis, Suchitra Sen, Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha, and Nutan were popular, she stood out. Despite tough competition, she remained focused on her priorities and never let her acting career overshadow her passion for classical dance.
Because of her exceptional dancing skills, filmmakers made sure to include numerous dance sequences in the films she starred in. Her proficiency in hand gestures and her light-footedness earned her the affectionate nickname ‘Twinkle Toes.’
In a throwback interview with Bollywood Hungama, Vyjayanthimala recalled her magical pairing with Dilip Kumar. She acknowledged Dilip Kumar’s joyous and enriching presence on set, highlighting his ability to contribute significantly to each scene. Vyjayanthimala expressed that working with Dilip Kumar was a valuable learning experience, not just for her but for all co-actors privileged to share the screen with him.