Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has demanded prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for veteran actress Sulochana. The party MLC Neelam Gorhe has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to recommend the 90-year-old's name for the country's highest award in cinema.

"Sulochana, who turned 90 yesterday, had started her career in the black and white era, and was active in films till 1980s. She is a witness to the golden era of cinema. She played mother to almost all superstars of Bollywood of yesteryears," Gorhe stated in her letter.

Sulochana Latkar, popularly known only as 'Sulochana' is a veteran of nearly 300 Marathi and Hindi films. She had been honoured with Padmshri and Maharashtra Bhushan awards.

"I appeal to the state government to recommend her name for Dadasaheb Phalke award," Gorhe said.
The annual award, named after Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, is given for "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema".

Veterans like actor-director (late) Raj Kapoor, playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, thespian Dilip Kumar, lyricist Gulzar had been bestowed the honour in the past since 1969. Actor (late) Vinod Khanna was the recipient of the award last year. The award is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony.