Akshay Kumar wins big at Dadsaheb Phalke Awards

It was a night that celebrated socially-relevant films in Bollywood and its leading players at the recent Dadasaheb Phalke Awards held in Mumbai on April 29.

Pad Man, a film that tackled the issue of women’s menstrual hygiene or the lack of it spearheaded by Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor, shone bright as it took home two awards. Another socially-charged film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, which spun a movie around the issue of open defecation in India, also got the nod.

Kapoor, who played an activist in Pad Man, and Kumar, who brought to life the story of the journey of the social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham who invented low-cost machines for sanitary pads in India, were was honoured with the Best Actor trophies for their roles in the film.

Bhumi Pednekar, who played the progressive and defiant bride in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha refusing to defecate in the open fields and who demanded that toilets be built in her groom’s home, went home with the Best Actress trophy.

Actress Manisha Koirala was honoured with the Most Versatile Actress award, while director Rakesh Roshan and Farida Jalal were bestowed the lifetime achievement awards for their contribution to Hindi cinema.

The Best Entertaining Film went to romantic comedy Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety, which was a roaring box office success.

Check out the pictures to be a part of the action-filled night.