Nitin Gadkari says Asha Parekh climbed 12 floors to lobby for Padma Bhushan

Nagpur: In a startling revelation, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has claimed that Bollywood's veteran actress Asha Parekh had come to him seeking to be recommended for the Padma Bhushan saying that she was 'entitled' for one. Addressing an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said that giving out awards was creating a 'headache' these days and he was being 'chased' for recommendations. He further said that the celebrated actress had done the same.

"Film actor Asha Parekh came to me for recommending her name for Padma Bhushan. The lift of my apartment was not functioning properly, so she climbed 12th floors to meet me in person and I really felt bad about it," the Union Minister said.

Gadkari added that Parekh said that she was entitled for the Padma Bhushan due to her massive contribution in Indian Film industry.

Parekh was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2014 and in 1992 she was awarded the Padma Shri.