MUMBAI: Yash Chopra has been given the Raj Kapoor Award by the Maharashtra government. The award, which consisted of a citation and a memento and Rs 1 lakh, was given to him in recognition of his contributions to the Hindi film industry.

Chopra was given the award on 30 April, which coincided with the 44th Marathi Film Festival and Awards, by Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

“I am honoured that the Government of Maharashtra has chosen me for this award. I have always believed that the realisation of my dreams was largely enabled by the spirit of the city of Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra, and to be honoured by its government is doubly gratifying for me. And the fact that the award is named after Raj Kapoor sahaab, who like me was born in Punjab but made this state his own, only makes it that much more special,” said Chopra.

The award ceremony was also attended by Madhuri Dixit, Suneil Shetty and Ritesh Deshmukh. It was held in Kolhapur at the Shivaji Stadium.