Anupam Kher wins top Asian Award (With Image)

London, April 17 (IANS) Bollywood actor Anupam Kher was honoured with the Asian Award here for his performances in movies like "Silver Linings Playbook", "Bride & Prejudice", and "Bend it Like Beckham".

The award ceremony took place Tuesday and the actor, who was not present, thanked the organisers through a video message.

In a statement released Wednesday, Kher says, "I am truly humbled and honoured for being awarded the Asian Award for my work as an actor. As an actor, all we do and want to do is make people laugh, cry, and persuade many other emotions by our craft. Our achievement at the end of the day is when the audience really does understand what we are doing."

The Asian Awards is the only event in Britain's calendar that celebrates achievements of individuals originating from the Asian continent, including those residing in Britain, India, China, Japan, and Singapore.

It recognises and applauds the finest talent from a wide plethora of fields, including the arts, business and entrepreneurship, technology and sports.

The Asian Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane. It was hosted by London 2012 Olympic mastermind Lord Sebastian Coe, KBE.

Chinese American martial artist, actor Bruce Lee won the founders' awards, while English actor Ben Kingsley received the fellowship award.

Anupam is proud he was chosen for an award the same year as Kingsley, who has so far dedicated over four decades to showbiz.

"It is also an honour to be given this award the same year as Sir Ben Kingsley. Makes me feel very proud," said Anupam.

English playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker, novelist and short story writer Hanif Kureishi CBE won in the art category and British actress Nina Wadia received an award in the television category.

Indian industrialist and philanthropist Adi Godrej got the entrepreneur award.

Other winners include Indian businessman and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, Japanese racing driver Kamui Kobayashi, Ravi Ruia vice-chairman of Essar Group and Indian-American computer architect Ajay Bhatt.