Bharat Ratna: Bollywood celebrities congratulate former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya have been conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna. Several Bollywood celebrities have been congratulating the former PM. Today is also Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday. We take you through some of the congratulatory messages that were posted by Bollywood celebs.

At a media event, Esha Gupta spoke about how she met the stalwart when she was a kid. “My nana and Atalji were roommates when they were studying law. My mother and masi call him mamaji. I have met him only once. And this news is like celebration for us. He really did well for the country. It was one of the best times. Many congratulations to him. I have met him only once when he was the Prime Minister. I was so small at time, there is no bigger high at that time. You just know that you are meeting the country's most powerful person at that time,” [sic] she said.

Lata Mangeshkar: Namaskar. Today the Government of India has chosen Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ji and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. I am very happy to get this news as I consider these two personalities as global gems. I have bee fortunate enough to have met Shri Atal Bihaji Vajpayeeji several times. [sic]

Anupam Kher: Had the honour of meeting Atal ji a number of times. A magnificent and a magnetic personality. Vast knowledge. Even about cinema.:) [sic]

Hema Malini: With great joy I heard that Atalji along with Madanmohan Malaviyaji has been selected to receive the Bharat Ratna,the highest civilian award. [sic]

Vishal Dadlani: Atal Behari Vajpayee, the last true statesman we've known. Bharat Ratna, well deserved! Current govt. should aspire to rise to his level. [sic]

Riteish Deshmukh: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee : one of the tallest leaders of India -truly deserves this honour- legendary orator & statesman. [sic]

Madhur Bhandarkar: Two stalwarts & deserving sons of soil ATALJI & MALVYAJI who toiled to make India proud, have been conferred d #BharatRatna! Many congrats. [sic]