MUMBAI: Martial arts legend Bruce Lee is set to be honoured with the Founders Award during this year‘s Asian Awards in London this summer for his iconic status and impact on western cinema.
 
The award would be taken posthumously by Lee‘s wife Linda Lee Cadwell at the third Asian Awards April 16. The honor comes with the 40th anniversary of Lee‘s death.
 
Previous recipients of the Founders Award include Freddie Mercury for his outstanding contribution to the music industry.
 
Earlier, the awards recognized the achievements of individuals of South Asian origin, but for the first time, nominees with origins from China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other East Asian countries have also been considered.
 
Asian Awards founder Paul Sagoo reportedly said, "Bruce Lee was the first person of Asian descent to successfully crossover into Hollywood and make such a dramatic impact on western cinema," Sagoo sad. "You can argue that if it wasn‘t for Lee, Asian culture and martial arts would never have really penetrated western culture and we wouldn‘t have Jackie Chan, Jet Li and now actors like Irrfan Khan, who starred in Life of Pi."
 
Lee, born in San Francisco in 1940, died of a cerebral oedema in 1973 when he was only 32..
 
Lee‘s film‘s include The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973) and The Game of Death (1978).
 
Earlier, Asian award honorees from the world of entertainment included Asha Bhosle, Amitabh Bachchan, British rapper Jay Sean and composer A.R. Rahman.