Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan today told the Legislative Assembly that no decision has been taken so far to confer the Raj Kapoor award to Hindi film superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
The state government felicitates achievers from the Hindi film industry with the Raj Kapoor award and those who have made a mark in the Marathi film industry with the V Shantaram Awards.
The issue was raised in the Lower House by BJP member Devendra Phadanvis who wanted to know why Marathi film actors were ignored to honour Shah Rukh.
"There is no doubt that Shah Rukh Khan is a big and well known actor. But, there are several Marathi actors too and Marathi cinema is doing very well. A film like Jogwa has won five National Awards. While movies like Natrang, Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy have done good business at the box office," Phadanvis said.
Intervening, Chavan said the government has not taken a decision to honour Shah Rukh with the Raj Kapoor award.
"It is not the government which decides on such awards. A committee is in place which takes a decision and forward the proposal to the government. I wish to state that the government has not received any such recommendation," Chavan said.
"Some news channels carried the news report which is not true," Chavan said.
