Padma Awards 2026: Late Dharmendra, Mammootty And Alka Yagnik To Be Honoured Today

India’s biggest civilian honours are set to celebrate some of the country’s most loved names from cinema, music and theatre this weekend. From legendary screen icons to celebrated playback singers, several familiar faces from the entertainment industry will be honoured at the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony in New Delhi.

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Padma Awards on May 25 during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This year, the Government of India has announced 131 Padma honours, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.

Among the biggest names being recognised this year are late Dharmendra, Mammootty and Alka Yagnik.

Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India’s highest

civilian honours and are presented for exceptional contributions across fields including arts, literature, sports, science, medicine, social work and public affairs.

Veteran Hindi cinema star Dharmendra will be honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan. The actor, remembered for classics such as Sholay, Chupke Chupke and Phool Aur Patthar, remains one of the most celebrated stars in Indian film history.

Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty will receive the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema. The superstar has worked across Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films during a career spanning several decades. He was earlier awarded the Padma Shri in 1998.

Actor R Madhavan has been selected for the Padma Shri. Popularly known as “Maddy”, the actor is known for films such as Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, 3 Idiots and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. He had also won a National Award in 2023 for Rocketry.

Late actor Satish Shah will be posthumously honoured with the Padma Shri. Known for his comic timing, Satish Shah became a household name through shows like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and FIR. He also featured in films including Main Hoon Na, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.

Playback singer Alka Yagnik will receive the Padma Bhushan for her long-standing contribution to Indian music and cinema.

Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee has been chosen for the Padma Shri. One of Bengali cinema’s biggest stars, Prosenjit has acted in more than 350 films over a career spanning nearly five decades.

Veteran theatre and film actor Anil Kumar Rastogi will also receive the Padma Shri. Apart from theatre, he is known for films such as Ishaqzaade, Thappad and Mulk. He is also recognised for his contribution to science and academia.

Veteran actor and director Arvind Vaidya is another Padma Shri recipient this year. With a career spanning more than six decades in theatre and film, he is currently seen playing Hasmukh “Babuji” Shah in Anupamaa.