The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic honour, recognizes outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Instituted in 1969 to commemorate the father of Indian cinema Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, this prestigious award is presented annually by the Government of India.
Here’s the complete updated list of Dadasaheb Phalke Award winners (1969-2024), along with their iconic contributions.
2024 Winner: Waheeda Rehman (Veteran Actress)
The 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred on legendary actress Waheeda Rehman for her timeless performances in classics like Guide (1965), Pyaasa (1957), and Teesri Kasam (1966). At 86, she remains an inspiration for generations.
Complete List of Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winners (1969-2024)
Year | Recipient | Field | Notable Works |
1969 | Devika Rani | Actress | Achhut Kanya, Jeevan Naiya |
1970 | B.N. Sircar | Producer | Founder of New Theatres |
1971 | Prithviraj Kapoor | Actor-Theatre | Mughal-e-Azam, Sikandar |
1972 | Pankaj Mullick | Singer-Composer | Street Singer, Doctor |
1973 | Ruby Myers (Sulochana) | Actress | Bombay Ki Billi, Anarkali |
1974 | Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy | Director | Bangaru Papa, Pellinaati Pramanalu |
1975 | Dhirendranath Ganguly | Actor-Director | Bilet Pherat (First Bengali Talkie) |
1976 | Kanan Devi | Singer-Actress | Vidyapati, Jawani Ki Hawa |
1977 | Nitin Bose | Cinematographer-Director | Ganga Jamuna, Deedar |
1978 | Raichand Boral | Music Director | First Indian talkie ‘Alam Ara’ (1931) |
1979 | Sohrab Modi | Actor-Director | Pukar, Mirza Ghalib |
1980 | Paidi Jairaj | Actor-Director | Draupadi, Toofan Mail |
1985 | V. Shantaram | Director-Actor | Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Navrang |
1990 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Actor | Devadasu, Prem Nagar |
1991 | Raj Kapoor | Actor-Director | Mera Naam Joker, Shree 420 |
1994 | Dilip Kumar | Actor | Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas |
1995 | Rajkumar | Actor-Singer | Kasturi Nivasa, Bangarada Manushya |
1997 | Sivaji Ganesan | Actor | Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Thevar Magan |
1998 | Lata Mangeshkar | Playback Singer | Over 30,000 songs in 36 languages |
2001 | Asha Bhosle | Playback Singer | “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,” “Dum Maro Dum” |
2005 | Shyam Benegal | Director | Ankur, Manthan |
2011 | Soumitra Chatterjee | Actor | Feluda Series, Apur Sansar |
2013 | Gulzar | Lyricist-Director | Aandhi, Koshish |
2014 | Shashi Kapoor | Actor-Producer | Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie |
2015 | Manoj Kumar | Actor-Director | Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim |
2016 | Kasinathuni Viswanath | Director | Sankarabharanam, Swathi Muthyam |
2017 | Vinod Khanna | Actor-Politician | Amar Akbar Anthony, Qurbani |
2018 | Amitabh Bachchan | Actor | Sholay, Deewar, Piku |
2019 | Rajinikanth | Actor | Baashha, Kabali, Enthiran |
2021 | Asha Parekh | Actress | Teesri Manzil, Caravan |
2023 | Chiranjeevi | Actor-Producer | Indra, Khaidi No. 150 |
2024 | Waheeda Rehman | Actress | Guide, Pyaasa |
Interesting Facts About the Award
✅ First Winner (1969): Devika Rani (Dadasaheb Phalke’s niece-in-law)
✅ Youngest Winner: Raj Kapoor (posthumously at 63)
✅ Oldest Winner: Ashok Kumar (awarded at 89)
✅ Only Lyricist Winner: Gulzar (2013)
✅ Most Controversial Omission: Madhubala (never awarded)
Who Could Win Next?
Predictions for 2025 include:
- Kamal Haasan (Versatile actor-director)
- Hema Malini (Dream Girl of Bollywood)
- Ilaiyaraaja (Legendary music composer)