MUMBAI: The Directorate of Film Festival, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Government of Goa have decided to honour Manoj Bajpayee for his contribution to new emerging cinema on 22 November, the day the International Film Festival of India kicks off in Goa.

Bajpai has played memorable roles in films like Bandit Queen, Satya, Shool, Aks, Pinjar and Raajneeti to name a few.

Comments Bajpai, "I am very happy and humbled by this decision. They selected me for my work that is yet more rewarding. To be honored and facilitated in the presence of international film fraternity is definitely great. For me, as an actor, film making a constant changing process. Indian cinema has come a long way and my contribution to it has brought me pleasure. As an artiste, I too, I have evolved along with it."

The ten-day festival that will conclude on 2 December will see a strong presence of Bollywood in terms of tributes and films, including celebrating the birth centenary year of yesteryear actors Ashok Kumar, Motilal and Nadia.

This year, the IFFI has a record number of 450 film entries from 55 countries.