Since veteran actor Pran will not be able to travel to New Delhi to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on conditions of ill health, the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) has decided that the award will be given to him in absentia. The special delegation of the DFF will fly down to Mumbai and present Pran with the award. "They (DFF) have told the family that they will play an audio-visual clip at the award ceremony and then come and give him the award at his home,” said his daughter Pinky.

<strong>Amitabh Bachchan: </strong> “I am delighted. A most deserving recognition.” <strong>Saroj Khan: </strong> “Thank God they gave him the honour while he is breathing. Pran Saheb should have got this award long back. I congratulate him from the bottom of my heart. Long live Pran Saheb.”

Shatrughan Sinha shares his feelings on Pran winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. “I'd say the honour is too late too little too delayed but thoroughly deserving for an incomparable actor who is also a kind and helpful human being. <em>Der aaye par durust aaye</em>. Better late than never and I’d like to add better never than ‘late’. What is the point of honouring the dead? We’re fortunate to have Pran Saab with us and that he got the Dadasaheb Phalke award during his lifetime.“