New Delhi: Evergreen Bollywood hero Dev Anand has been selected for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2002 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh, a shawl and a Swarna Kamal and was instituted in 1969 to commemorate the outstanding contribution of late Dadasaheb Phalke to Indian cinema, official sources said today (Dec 9, 2003).

President A P J Abdul Kalam will give away the award at a ceremony scheduled to be held on December 29, they added.

The legendary actor and filmmaker will be the 34th recipient of the award. Born on September 26, 1923 in Gurdaspur, Punjab as Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, he graduated in Arts from Punjab University and went to Mumbai to join elder brother Chetan Anand.

Anand began his acting career at Prabhat where he met Guru Dutt and had his first hit film 'Ziddi' at Bombay Talkies. Together with Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, he ushered in the dominant acting idiom of post-independence Hindi cinema.

Among his most memorable films are 'Baazi', 'Taxi Driver', 'CID', 'Paying Guest', 'Kala Pani', 'Hum Dono', 'Tere Ghar Ke Saamne', 'Guide', 'Jewel Thief', 'Johnny Mera Naam', 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and 'Des Pardes'.

Reacting to the news, Anand, speaking from nearby hill station Mahableshwar said, "I am happy over the award. I makes one feel good and excited.

"It will add impetus to my work as it brings in a greater sense of responsibility," Dev Anand added.

"I am not exactly jumping like a child, but I do feel that the award would add more excitement to my work. It will stimulate my work," the 80-year-old actor who is known for his bubbling energy and amazing stamina said.

"There is nothing unusual about the award, I view it in a philosophical way. By the world's standard it is adding a feather to my cap. To me that people remember me – is in itself the greatest award," the actor added in a humble tone.

On the award coming late in the day, he said, "I don't care. People have often told me that I should have got an award like this, but to me it never mattered for I believe that when one leaves and goes and if people still remember you it is a great award," he said.

"Moreover, I have been working for years and I knew that one day it had to happen," he added as a matter-of-fact.

"Anyway, life just goes on and I am currently busy with my film 'Song of Life'. I am here in Mahableshwar in connection with another film, casting for which would begin soon," he said.

PTI