Bhanu Athaiya, the first Indian to win an Oscar for costume design in the movie Gandhi decided to return her award to the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in December 2012. Bhanu Athaiya fears that she might lose her trophy as the government might not be able to protect it.
Bhanu Athaiya, 85 blamed that the central government had neglected her work and contributions. She also blamed that there was no one or no museum that could protect these things.
Athaiya had won the most prestigious Oscar award for costume design for classic film Gandhi in 1982. Now, she has decided to return the award to AMPAS, for which she is also in negotiations with the academy. Athaiya had dressed Ben Kingsley in the film Gandhi.
Bhanu Athaiya is also unsure that her family could take care of the prestigious award after her dismissal.
Athaiya was the first Indian star at Academy. She has designed various costumes for more than 100 films which include Guide, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, CID, Pyaasa and Chaudhvin Ka Chand.
An American costume designer Edith Head also returned all the 8 Academy Awards won by her before she died in 1981.
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