Smriti recalls Amitabh's AIR audition travesty at IFFI award ceremony

Panaji, Nov 28 : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday presented IFFI's 'Indian Film Personality of the Year' award to megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and said it was only logical and befitting, that decades after Bachchan as a struggler was rejected by All India Radio during an audition for radio announcer, that the ministry was bestowing an award on the superstar.

"There was one incident in his lifetime at AIR, when he went for auditioning and he was rejected. Therefore it is logical today and it is our good fortune, that the same Ministry, from this dais, on behalf of the government of India, on behalf of every India, on behalf of every film fan, you are being awarded," Irani said at the closing ceremony of the 48th International Film Festival of India at Panaji.

Amitabh was presented the Indian Film Personality of the Year award, which includes a silver peacock, a certificate and scroll and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.