Which well known Bollywood actor received the Kala Ratan Award in March 2017 for his contribution to Indian cinema?

Introduction / Context:
Indian state level and institutional awards like the Kala Ratan Award are an important part of the honours and awards segment in competitive exams. Such questions test awareness of both national level and regional recognitions. This question refers to March 2017, when veteran actor Anupam Kher was honoured with the Kala Ratan Award for his long standing contribution to Indian cinema. Knowing this fact not only helps in direct questions but also enriches understanding of how different bodies honour artists in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award mentioned is the Kala Ratan Award. - The time frame specified is March 2017. - The options list established Bollywood actors. - The question asks which actor actually received this award at that time.

Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to match the given award and year with news reports regarding cultural recognitions in 2017. Various newspapers and current affairs compilations reported that Anupam Kher was conferred the Kala Ratan Award by the Vice President of India at Panjab University. While the other options are also famous actors with many awards, they are not associated with this specific recognition in the given year. By recalling the event and the person who publicly shared the news, including Anupam Kher's own social media posts, we can identify the right answer among near similar distractors.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Focus on the key elements of the question: Kala Ratan Award and March 2017. 2. Recall that news items from that period highlighted Anupam Kher being honoured with this award. 3. Recognise that he received it for his decades of work in Indian cinema and his association with Panjab University. 4. Compare each option and check if any other listed actor is specifically linked to this award in 2017. 5. Conclude that Anupam Kher is the correct and only appropriate choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple verification strategy is to remember that Anupam Kher himself publicly expressed happiness and pride on social media about receiving the Kala Ratan Award from the Vice President of India. Current affairs notes and exam magazines have frequently mentioned this item in their awards and honours sections. Furthermore, exam oriented compilations explicitly pair the phrase Kala Ratan Award March 2017 with the name Anupam Kher. Recalling these sources reinforces the correctness of this association and helps double check the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Naseeruddin Shah is a legendary actor in Indian cinema and theatre, but there is no record of him receiving the Kala Ratan Award in March 2017. Akshay Kumar is a popular Bollywood star who has earned many film awards and a National Film Award, yet he is not the named recipient of this award in the year specified. Jitendra is a veteran actor of Hindi cinema, but again, he was not honoured with the Kala Ratan Award in March 2017. Amitabh Bachchan is one of the most iconic actors in India and has received numerous honours, but this particular question is not about him.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to choose the most famous name in the list, such as Amitabh Bachchan or Akshay Kumar, without paying attention to the specific connection between person, award, and year. Another common confusion arises because many different awards use similar sounding titles like Ratna, Ratan, or Rattan, and aspirants may mix them up. To avoid such errors, it is useful to link each award with one clear mental image or fact. For example, linking Kala Ratan Award March 2017 with Anupam Kher and Panjab University creates a strong memory anchor that prevents confusion in the exam hall.

Final Answer:
The Bollywood actor who received the Kala Ratan Award in March 2017 is Anupam Kher.