Asha Parekh’s Rise, Awards and Trailblazing Role as Censor Board Chief

Born in 1942, Asha Parekh’s affinity for dance set the stage for her entry into Indian cinema. After early child‑artist roles, her first major lead opportunity ended abruptly – she earned just 11 rupees for *Goonj Uthi Shehnai* and was cut from the film for lacking "star quality".

The rejection motivated veteran director Nasir Hussain to offer her a screen test for *Dil Deke Dekho*. The test succeeded, and the 1959 release catapulted Parekh to stardom alongside Shammi Kapoor. Over the next decade she headlined romantic comedies, thrillers and dramas, delivering box‑office blockbusters such as *Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai*, *Teesri Manzil*, *Mere Sanam* and *Kati Patang*.

Her performance in *Kati Patang* earned the Filmfare Best Actress trophy, cementing her standing among the era’s elite. Beyond the silver screen, she produced and directed projects, and directed the Gujarati television serial *Jyoti* while contributing to the series *Kora Kagaz*.

In a historic appointment, Parekh served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification from 1998 to 2001, becoming the first woman to hold the post. National honors followed: the Padma Shri (1992), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement (2002) and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2020) – the highest recognition for contributions to Indian cinema.