BabuMoshai

Macau (IANS): Bollywood veteran Rajesh Khanna was at his dramatic best when he received the lifetime achievement trophy at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards here from his Anand co-star Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday night.

Khanna, who featured in hits like Aradhana, Kati Patang and Amar Prem in his four-decade long career, kept referring to Big B as babumoshai, in the manner in which he addressed Bachchan in their 1971 heartwarming hit Anand.

“It took me 40 years and 180 films to get this IIFA Lifetime Achievement award — a long journey I must say. I am very grateful to IIFA, (event organisers) Wizcraft, committee members and babumoshai. Babumoshai, thank you very very much,” Khanna said in his acceptance speech.

“It is after 16 years later that we are together on a stage. I thank him from the bottom of my heart,” he added.

Khanna, 66, also belted dialogues from his famous films to entertain the audience. And he even appreciated Bachchan's successful journey in his professional life.

“Life should be big, not necessarily long, and my babumoshai is living life big — living life king size. (Look) from where to where he has reached in so many years. We started with Anand and today we are on this platform. He is very dear to me, he is my babumoshai,” he said.

“Whatever I am, I am because of you, my audience. My audience members, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian — everyone was responsible to make me an actor to a star to a superstar to what I am today. Thank you all,” he said.

In the past, IIFA has awarded Bollywood stalwarts like Waheeda Reham, Asha Parekh, Yash Chopra, Dharmendra, Mumtaz and others for their contribution to Indian cinema.