Padma Awards 2026: Emotional Hema Malini accepts Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan, watch video

#WATCH | Delhi | Padma Vibhushan awarded to legendary veteran actor late Dharmendra by President Droupadi Murmu

BJP MP Hema Malini received the honour awarded to her late husband and legendary actor for his contribution in the field of Arts

(Video source: President of… pic.twitter.com/HglPJJAXRl

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026

Mammootty, Alka Yagnik honoured with Padma Awards

In the field of arts, legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty, veteran playback singer Alka Yagnik, and advertising stalwart Piyush Pandey (posthumously) were honoured with the Padma Bhushan. While Mammootty and Alka skipped the event, Piyush Pandey’s wife, Nita Pandey, received the award on his behalf.

Actors R. Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Satish Shah, Murali Mohan, and Rajendra Prasad were also conferred with the Padma Shri. While Prosenjit accepted the award in person, Madhavan, Murali and Rajendra were absent from the ceremony.

What are the Padma Awards?

The Padma Awards recognise the impeccable contributions made by civilians in various fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service, among others. In 2026, a total of five persons were awarded the Padma Vibhushan, 13 the Padma Bhushan, and 113 the Padma Shri.

During the May 25 ceremony, the President reportedly conferred two Padma Vibhushans, six Padma Bhushans, and 58 Padma Shri awards. The remaining awards will be distributed in the second round of the ceremony to be held later. The awards were announced on the occasion of Republic Day in January.