Farooque Sheikh joins CID Gallantry awards jury

Mumbai (IANS) - Versatile actor Farooque Sheikh has been roped in to select candidates for the second edition of CID Gallantry Awards.

The 62-year-old is part of a jury that comprises of Air Marshal Padma Bandhopadhyay, Sabrina Lall and crime journalist Shams Tahir Khan.

"It's an extraordinary effort and extraordinary people's extraordinary deeds are going to be highlighted, praised, awarded and brought to the notice of the people in the country. It's a very special effort and I'm very happy and
proud to be a part of it," Farooque told IANS.

"Most of us are usually concerned only about ourselves, so people who really do something for someone else are great human beings. They are people who really allow the society to be a human society. This is most praiseworthy,"
he added.

The awards are being organised by the Sony Entertainment Channel in association with their crime thriller show "CID" that recently completed 13 years.

Speaking about the criteria for short-listing the deserving candidates, Farooque said: "What was the situation in which it was done, what was the pressures under which he or she acted, and how much did the person put himself at risk - all these factors will be taken into consideration while making the decision."

"I'm yet to do anything that I can call an act of bravery. The day I do something like that, I'll become a participant in this."

When asked about his plans of returning to television, the actor, who has presented shows like "Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai", said: "Anything that is interesting, I'll take it up but without that I would not like to do it. Television working hours are too much, so if you have to work so hard, then you should at least feel creatively satisfied, otherwise there is no point."

Farooque has been part of notable films like "Garam Hawa", "Shatranj Ke Khiladi", "Noorie", "Chashme Baddoor", "Saath Saath" and "Umrao Jaan" among others.