Bharat Ratna should be for those whose work benefited people: Om Puri

Renowned actor Om Puri today said the country's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, should be given to those whose achievements had benefited the  society at large, rather than for mere "personal achievements".

Puri, here to promote his film Teen They Bhai, said Bharat Ratna should be given posthumously to Mahatma Gandhi.

"Bharat Ratna should be conferred on the great person like Gandhiji who dedicated his whole life for the country."

The award should be given to social workers or scientists, whose work benefits the society, rather than to those with "personal achievement", the 60-year-old Bollywood actor said.

"It is my personal achievement if I have excelled in acting. Similarly, if a boxer had become a Mohammad Ali by the dint of his excellent performance what has the society got out of it?" he asked.

When asked whether cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar should get the award, he said that Tendulkar was the best batsman in the world and all Indians were proud of him.

"But I have already made clear what, in my opinion, should be the criterion for Bharat Ratna."