World Economic Forum summit at Davos

Awards and accolades are nothing new for Bollywood's superstar Shah Rukh Khan. But the one conferred on him at a function in snow-covered Davos, Switzerland, on Monday night was special in more ways than one.

Khan received the 24th Crystal Award along with music legend Elton John and actress Cate Blanchett at a ceremony, which opened the annual World Economic Forum summit in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. The ceremony celebrates the achievements of outstanding artists who have shown exemplary commitment to improving the state of the world.

Khan was bestowed the honour for "His leadership in championing children's and women's rights in India," the World Economic Forum (WEF) said.

Khan, one of Hindi cinema's most globally recognised faces, is also a founder of a non-profit foundation which provides support to female victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries through medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation and livelihood support. In his award acceptance speech, Khan said "we, the powerful, need to get out of the way, to pick the barriers apart, the ones that give us names and races and colours and hierarchies."

"That is what I have learned from my beautifully scarred women," he added.

At the award-giving function, Khan did not let go another opportunity to showcase his prowess to be at his wittiest best. He publicly wanted to take a selfie with Cate Blanchett but quipped that it would leave his kids embarrassed. The audience broke into peals of laughter. That was a typical Khan humour.

"Honoured to receive the World Economic Forum's 24th Crystal Award, together with Elton John and Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett. My fan moment," Bollywood's most bankable actor tweeted after receiving the honour.

Blanchett received the Crystal Award for her work with refugees while British singer-songwriter Elton John got his for his charitable work with his AIDS foundation.

Blanchett, who has won two Oscars, was named a Goodwill Ambassador for UN's refugee agency UNHCR in May 2016. As part of her role, the actor has travelled to Lebanon and Jordan to meet refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict.

Among the past winners of the Crystal Award are Amitabh Bachchan, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, composer A R Rahman, actress Shabana Azmi, sitarists Ravi Shankar and sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.