Nagpur: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has caused embarrassment to yesteryear diva Asha Parekh by alleging that the latter had lobbied for a Padma Bhushan award.

Gadkari claimed that the veteran actor had vehemently persuaded him to recommend her for the Padma Bhushan saying that she was entitled for one due to her massive contribution to the field of cinema.

He said that since the lift of his apartment was not working the senior actor climbed 12 floors to reach to him.

Gadkari was addressing an event here when he said giving out awards was creating a `headache` these days and that he was being `chased` for recommendations and that the celebrated actress had done the same.

“Film actor Asha Parekh came to me for recommending her name for Padma Bhushan. The lift of my apartment was not functioning properly, so she climbed 12th floors to meet me in person and I really felt bad about it,” the Union Minister said.

Parekh was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2014 and with the Padma Shri in 1992.