On the eve of India's 77th Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially announced the prestigious Padma Awards for 2026. This year's list of honourees features a distinguished group of cinematic icons who have made significant contributions to the arts and Indian culture over several decades. Leading the list is the legendary late veteran actor Dharmendra, affectionately known as the He-Man of Bollywood. The late actor, who passed away at the age of 89 in November 2025, has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour. Dharmendra's immense legacy, recently highlighted by his final film appearance in Ikkis which released on January 1, continues to be carried forward by his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol. In the Padma Bhushan category, the government has recognized Malayalam superstar Mammootty. Known for his progressive and culturally rooted contributions to Malayalam cinema, Mammootty shares this high honour with the renowned Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik, whose voice has defined Indian music for decades. The Padma Shri awards also celebrated several notable figures from various regional film industries and television. National Award-winning actor R Madhavan and Bengali cinema legend Prosenjit Chatterjee have both been named as recipients of the Padma Shri. Joining them is the late veteran actor Satish Shah, who passed away in October 2025. Known for his unforgettable portrayal of Indravadan Sarabhai in the hit series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Satish Shah is being honoured posthumously for his work in television and films. Additionally, Gujarati theatre and Hindi television personality Arvind Vaidya, father of actress Vandana Pathak, has also been conferred with the Padma Shri. The Padma Awards are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. While the names are announced now, President Droupadi Murmu will present the medals to the awardees at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year.
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