Bollywood legend Bachchan gets top French honour

INDIA: France conferred its highest civilian honour, the Legion d'Honneur, on Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan at its embassy in India on Saturday, officials here said.

Bachchan was presented with the award by France's ambassador to India, Dominique Girard, at a lavish ceremony, the officials said.

"This is to mark his achievements spanning an illustrious period," the diplomat said, adding that Bachchan was given the award for his "contribution to Indian and international culture."

Established in 1802, the Legion d'Honneur is conferred on French citizens and foreigners for outstanding achievements in either culture, science, industry or the military.

Bachchan's career spans four decades and more than 140 films.

He survived two life-threatening illnesses in 1982 and 2005, coming out of retirement in the late 1990s to be the hugely successful TV host of the Indian version of the British game-show "Who wants to be a Millionaire?"

The "Big B", as he is affectionately known to fans, starred last year in one of Bollywood's biggest-ever hits: Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehena" (Never say goodbye), playing the role of an aging playboy, "Sexy Sam."

The actor has also been in the spotlight recently as his Bollywood heart-throb son Abhishekh is set to wed popular actress Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World.

New Delhi, Sunday, AFP