Pune, Oct 30 (PTI): Actor Anupam Kher on Monday said if people can wait at restaurants or party venues, why can't they stand for 52 seconds for the National Anthem in cinema halls.

Kher was here to receive the Pramod Mahajan Memorial Award.

Shayara Bano, the original petitioner in the 'triple talaq' case, was also conferred with the award, constituted in the name of the late BJP leader.

During his speech, Kher lambasted those against mandatorily playing the National Anthem inside the cinema halls before the start of the film.

"Some people are of the opinion that standing up for the National Anthem should not be made mandatory, but for me, standing up for the National Anthem shows the upbringing of that person," he said.

"We stand up in respect in front of our father or teacher, similarly getting up for the National Anthem shows respect towards our nation."

"If people can wait at the restaurants, stand in queues in front of cinema halls or at the party venues, why cannot they stand for 52 seconds for the National Anthem in the cinema halls," he added.

Kher, while raking up the 'award waapsi' issue, said, "At the age of 15, I learnt how to deal with failure so these 'award waapsi' people cannot scare me," he said.

Kher said his father had taught him how to deal with failures after he could not clear his examination at the age of 15.

The Pramod Mahajan Memorial Award is given by Pune-based organisation Muktachhand, run by BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar handed over the awards.

Poonam Mahajan, a BJP MP and the daughter of the late Pramod Mahajan, was also present.