MUMBAI: Shabana Azmi and her poet-lyricist husband Javed Akhtar have been awarded honorary fellowships by the National Indian Students Union (NISU) (UK).

"It is the highest honour that can be bestowed onto a non-member by the NISU and we are delighted to bestow our first honorary fellowships on two individuals whose contributions to Indian cinema and society are unmatched.

Both names are integral parts of Indian cinema and their contributions are to be cherished and acknowledged for generations to come," said NISU president Sanam Arora.

The fellowships, instituted to mark 100 years of Indian cinema, have been awarded to the couple to celebrate and acknowledge their contributions in shaping the present and future of India."

"We are really pleased as this is the first time such a fellowship has been instituted. Recognition from students means a lot as they are a tough group to satisfy. And that it is in honour of our work over the years, is really heart-warming," Azmi has been quoted to have said.

"The commitment and dedication they have demonstrated to both their fields and their country is something that each youngster should learn from, and we hope this association between the NISU and these two legends inspires the youth," she added.

The NISU (UK) is an umbrella organisation created in 2011 for the entire Indian student community in the United Kingdom. It includes students currently pursuing their education in the country as well as former alumni.