Aishwarya Rai Bachchan honoured with Abhinaya Kaala Ratna

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was honoured with the Pazhassiraja Purashkaram 'Abhinaya Kaala Ratna' by the Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust. Other recipients of this award were Lata Mangeshkar, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and many others from other fields. Earlier, this award has only been conferred to Amitabh Bachchan from the Hindi film industry; now Lata Mangeshkar and Aishwarya have joined the eminent list of recipients.

Aishwarya could not attend the event as she had a prior family commitment out of town but her message said, "I'd like to dedicate this award to every professional I've worked with throughout my career and to all my audiences in India and the world over for their love, support and blessings... and my family."

The ceremony was planned in Delhi earlier this year in the presence of the President of India, but due to the sad demise of his Highness Sankara Varma (senior Raja of Pazhassi Kovilalam) the ceremony was rescheduled in Mumbai in the presence of His Excellency the Governor of Maharashtra.

The Pazhassi Rajakeeya Puraskaram, an award instituted by the Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust honours eminent personalities of international reputation from across the country.

The Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust was formed with the noble intention of remembering the great pioneer freedom fighter Veera Pazhassi Raja, his uncompromising patriotism and introducing him to the new generation. This, we hope, will enlighten them with the chivalrous stories of the fight against alien rule. Dr. Peeyush M. Nampoothiripad, a young doctor hailing from Meppayur, a remote village in Kozhikode, is the Founder Trustee and former Chairman of the Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust. The missions envisioned are the outcome of this young doctor's ideas.

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama