With a large number of filmy ‘breaking news’ (scoops) stories to his credit in the past, Chaitanya is the recipient of the prestigious K.A. Abbas Memorial Gold Medaland Trophy
Chaitanya Padukone honoured by Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan
Two decades before Bollywood megastar Deepika Padukone made her dramatic Bollywood acting debut, there was already yet another Padukone — distinguished senior film journalist and columnist Chaitanya Padukone who was already making an impact in the print-media by winning laurels and accolades for his brilliant newsy acumen and creative writing calibre.
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The latest gem to his career crown is this honour from the online annual Mumbai Achievers Award 2020 bearing the citation ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for ‘outstanding contribution to film journalism backed by absolute dedication and professionalism’.
With a large number of filmy ‘breaking news’ (scoops) stories to his credit in the past, Chaitanya is the recipient of the prestigious K.A. Abbas Memorial Gold Medal and Trophy, which was conferred on him for Excellence in Film Journalism by megastar Amitabh Bachchan. More recently, he was honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award (2012) in the presence of icons like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan and other top Bollywood luminaries, for his outstanding contribution to showbiz journalism.
A former senior staff executive with HDFC Ltd ( home loans co.), for over three decades, Chaitanya Padukone's passion is playing Bollywood songs on western rhythm instruments. None other than corporate luminary HDFC Ltd Chairman Mr. Deepak S. Parekh, personally felicitated Chaitanya ( that too in the presence of the distinguished HDFC Board of Directors) when the latter had been honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award.
Altruistic-by-nature, Chaitanya has this commendable (perhaps unique) distinction of being honoured with coveted film journalism awards by both Bollywood superstars Rajesh Khanna as well as Amitabh Bachchan. In the past, Chaitanya has been known for his widely-read weekly colorful columns and trending stories-filmy celeb interviews for leading Mumbai-centric daily newspapers like Mid-Day (for over 18 years), DNA After Hrs, ADC and digital film-magazines like Cine Blitz.
A distinguished alumnus of St Xavier’s High School, Fort, as well, as Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and later post-graduate from Govt. Law College and Bombay College of Journalism (BCJ, ) Chaitanya was not content with just contributing startling media-stories. With his seasoned journalistic experience, he was invited by top reputed colleges (including BCJ) as visiting faculty to teach film-journalism to post-graduate students.
Chaitanya with Phalke Academy Award & gifting R D BurMania book to Gulzar
Listed in the Limca Book of National Records for maximum number of awards for film journalism, during a given time-span period, from different reputed organizations, rhythm-savvy Chaitanya opted to make his literary debut in 2016 as an Author by penning his popular memoirs bestseller book titled R.D. BurMania on legendary Bollywood composer-singer R.D. Burman (Pancham-da), with whom he shared a personal rapport for ten years. The popular R D BurMania memoirs book has been extolled by both ardent fans of the maverick music director as also top celeb-stars of the Bollywood fraternity. Even the former Hon’ble Ambassador of Brazil, His Excellency Tovar da Silva Nunes had formally conveyed his earnest appreciation to author Chaitanya.
The unassuming ace-scribe Padukone, who has to his past-credit, first-ever exclusive interviews of a galaxy of top Bollywood stars when they were absolute newcomers, was appointed on the Advisory Jury Panel for the Indo-American Young Achievers’ Awards for three consecutive years. For the past three years, multi-faceted Chaitanya has been appointed by the I & B Ministry, Delhi, as an active Member on the Advisory Panel of the CBFC (Film Censor Board) Mumbai.
Enthuses Chaitanya, “Thanks to my film-journalism, it was enlightening for me to know the realistic ‘true colours’ of the make-believe world of entertainment. Besides, I also got to interview and personally know iconic legends like Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, R D Burman, Rishi Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Hrithik Roshan and many more. Honestly, I feel I also owe my success to the precious blessings, unconditional love and motivating support from both my Parents ‘late’ Devidas V. Padukone and ‘late’ Kamala D. Padukone”, shares the maverick media-professional. Currently Chaitanya is gearing up to author his most-awaited upcoming paper-back book possibly on little-known inside-info-trivia-gyaan on the glittering, sparkling Bolly-filmy duniya.
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