April 30, 2008, was an unforgettable day in the life of former superstar Rajesh Khanna. It was the day he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Golden Actor Award. The function was conducted on Phalke Jayanti in Mumbai. Immediately after, the actor stated to the press that he was even more honored to have shared the award with legendary filmmaker BR Chopra. The latter was also in the panel of judges which zeroed in on Khanna when he was a struggler as the winner of national talent hunt contest. Khanna never looked back, going on to become India's first superstar.

A visibly emotional Khanna declared the award as the 'ultimate crown' of his career spanning four decades considering that the award had been instituted in the memory of Phalkesaheb revered as the father of Indian cinema. The award had special significance since the Phalke Ratna award was also being conferred on BR Chopra. "It was my privilege to work in several of his production including the milestone song less movie Ittefaq which was directed by Yash Chopra. Success for me is a journey not destination." Rajesh Khanna said.

Kakaji, as Rajesh Khanna is fondly known by his colleagues, was given the award at 11.30 am in a departure from convention. Normally, the award is given at an evening ceremony. The actor, who has not been seen on the big screen for several years, has moved back to his bungalow 'Ashirwad' on Carter Road. During his superstar days, legions of fans visited this very bungalow, waiting for a glimpse of their film star. Today, the mellow actor can live a quieter life, reminiscing on his exceptional career