Nov 20, Legendary actor Rajinikanth has been honoured with the Icon of Golden Jubilee Award at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this year. The superstar received the award in the presence of Amitabh Bachchan, Minister of Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar and Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant at the 50th edition of the film festival. Naturally, the audience including his wife Latha Rajinikanth gave a standing ovation to the thalaiva, who has contributed to Indian cinema for more than four decades, not just in South (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) but in Bollywood too.

"One of the most acclaimed and influential actors in India, Shri @rajinikanthwas honoured with a special award "Icon of the Golden Jubilee of IFFI," one of the tweets read.

One of the most acclaimed and influential actors in India, Shri @rajinikanth was honoured with a special award "Icon of the Golden Jubilee of IFFI"#IFFI2019@satija_amit @MIB_India @PIB_India @esg_goa

Karan Johar, who hosted the inaugural ceremony of IFFI, invited Rajinikanth on the stage along with Bachchan and the ministers, as seen in the video shared by Press Information Bureau's official page on Youtube.

"I would like to invite Shri Pramod Sawant honourable Chief Minister Government of Goa, Prakash Javadekar Minister of Information & Broadcasting Government of India, Shri Amitabh Bachchan, Shri Amit Khare Secretary of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Government of India, Shri Parimal Rai Chief Secretary Government of Goa, Babul Supriyo Honourable Minister of State Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India, to bestow the award to our icon of our Golden Jubilee," Karan said.

Rajinikanth, who was last seen in Petta this year, "dedicated" his award to producers, directors and all the technicians, who have contributed to his illustrated career in Indian cinema.

"The honourable Chief Minister of Goa, honourable minister Prakash Javadekar ji, my inspiration Amitabh Bachchan ji, good evening to everybody. I am extremely happy to receive this prestigious International Film Festival of India's Golden Jubilee Icon award. My heartfelt thanks to Indian government for honouring me with this prestigious award and I dedicate this award to all my producers, directors and all the technicians who worked in that realm," Rajinikanth said in his speech.

On November 2, Prakash Javadekar had announced that Rajinikanth will be conferred with Icon of Golden Jubilee award at IFFI this year.

"In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, during the past several decades, I am happy to announce that the award for the ICON OF GOLDEN JUBILEE OF #IFFI2019 is being conferred on cine star Shri S Rajnikant. IFFIGoa50," Javadekar wrote on Twitter.
n to Indian cinema, during the past several decades, I am happy to announce that the award for the ICON OF GOLDEN JUBILEE OF #IFFI2019 is being conferred on cine star Shri S Rajnikant.

Overwhelmed with the recognition, Rajinikanth thanked Government of India, saying, "I thank the government of India for this prestigious honour bestowed upon me on the golden jubilee of the International film festival of India #IFFI2019 (sic)"

According to IFFI 2019, Rajinikanth has worked in 206 films in a career spanning over 44 years. He made his acting debut with director K Balachandar's Apoorva Ragangal in 1975. Rajinikanth has been a recipient of several honours including Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2016).

Apart from various Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, Rajinikanth shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in Andha Kanoon (1983), Geraftaar (1985) and Hum (1991) in Bollywood.

Rajinikanth will now be seen in AR Murugadoss's upcoming directorial venture Darbar.