MUMBAI: Hema Malini will be honoured with the Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) award for the year 2011. The award carries a memento, citation and a cash prize of Rs 400,000.

According to the award committee chairman and Rajya Sabha member T Subbirami Reddy, the award would be presented to the actress on 26 December.

Noted Nageswara Rao, "Hema Malini is a worthy actress and dancer. Even at the age of 60 years, she is so active both in her acting and dancing careers. She is a right choice."

Instituted in 2005 by the Akkineni International Foundation, the ANR award is an ‘Award for Excellence‘ presented to those who dedicated their life towards service to the film industry.

While the late Dev Anand was the first recipient of the ANR Award in 2005, he was followed by Shabana Azmi, Anjali Devi (popular Telugu actress), Vyjayanthimala Bali, Lata Mangeshkar and K Balachander respectively.