When legendary ‘showman’ Raj Kapoor’s charming star discovery Mandakini recently presented the prestigious, genuine Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Award (DPFFA) 2025, amidst loud applause, to eminent senior film journalist-editor Chaitanya Padukone for excellence in journalism, it had a special sentimental throwback re-connect value.
Recalls Padukone, “When Mandakini started her acting career, I was possibly the only film journalist who had interacted with her on the outdoor sets of Ram Teri Ganga Maili at Shivaji Park, that too in the presence of mentor-director Raj Kapoor-saab, even before she started shooting for the same musical mega-hit movie. And at the awards event, it was sentimentally heartening for me that while complimenting me, Yasmeen Joseph (that is her real name) recalled meeting me for the first time, decades ago,” shared Chaitanya, who considers the film-industry-centric genuine DPFF Award a highest humbling honour and validation for his dedication to film journalism for the past multiple decades.
At the Dadasaheb Phalke FF Awards event, Mandakini was accompanied by her dignified husband Dr Kagyur T. Rinpoche Thakur, who is also a Tibetan herbal medicines consultant, while the senior film actress is trained in Tibetan Yoga. Both are followers of revered spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Also, an interesting coincidence is that today happens to be the revered Saint Buddha Jayanti, and Mandakini religiously follows Buddhism.
Also sharing the same stage when Mandakini presented the award to Chaitanya was the acclaimed award-winning director Shoojit Sircar (of Piku, Pink, and Sardar Udham fame), who also congratulated the Phalke awardee—music-savvy, affable veteran journalist-author.
Over 21 top showbiz and music-biz celeb awardees and celebrity guests attended the glittering event, including Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Anu Malik, Udit Narayan, Purnima, Anupama, Sameer Anjaan, Manmeet (Meet Bros), stand-up comedienne Jamie Lever, and senior actors Sujata Mehta, Raju Shreshta, Hemant Birje, Bob Brahmbhatt, and Amar Upadhyay.