I am very thankful for Padmashri: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan today said she was "absolutely honoured" at being conferred the Padmashri and that she was grateful for it.

"I am very thankful for the privilege. I am humbled by it. I thank the high officers of our country because this has been accorded to me by them and our fellow people," the actress told reporters at the inauguration of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute in suburban Andheri here.

"I hope to be able to live up to the promise of it. I am very grateful and will continue doing my best," the actress added.