Actor Amitabh Bachchan, who was to be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award on Monday by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, has bowed out of the event due to illness.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will present the National Film Awards to the winners on Monday at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar will be attending the ceremony, according to a press release.

Earlier, the actor had written a note of thanks after being conferred with the award: “There is a paucity of words searching a response.. for the generosity of words that pour in ..I am but deeply grateful and most humbled .. my sincerest gratitude. What really resides in the mind shall never be known and may it never gratitude and express of immense humbleness..bear supreme today…and love.”

Amitabh could not attend the opening ceremony of the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival in November because of health issues. The actor was admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital for a few days. While it was speculated that he was there due to a liver ailment, his rep later clarified that it was for a routine check-up.

In 2018, President Kovind had presented only a handful few set of awards during the ceremony leading to a controversy. The first set of awards were conferred by Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, while the President presented the second lot.