Padma Awards 2026: In the field of art, iconic Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who died in November 2025, will be awarded a posthumous Padma Vibhushan. One of the most celebrated actors in the history of Hindi cinema, he won the Padma Bhushan in 2012.
Legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty, star playback singer Alka Yagnik and advertising legend Piyush Pandey have been named winners of the Padma Bhushan.
The much-awaited Padma Awards for 2026 were announced on Sunday, on the eve of Republic Day. The Padma Awards recognize impeccable contributions made by civilians in various fields including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, commerce and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and public administration, among others. While five people will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan, 13 will be awarded the Padma Bhushan and 113 will be awarded the Padma Shri.
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Meanwhile, actors R Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Satish Shah, Murali Mohan and Rajendra Prasad will be awarded the Padma Shri. The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremonial event to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year.
The announcement also sparked reactions from the winners and their families.
Reacting to the honor bestowed on her late husband Dharmendra, Hema Malini wrote in
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Following the announcement, Mammootty shared his candid reaction to the recognition while speaking to Mathrubhumi News. He said, “Santosham, athi santhosham… there is nothing greater than the honor of the country.”
Meanwhile, Madhavan took to Instagram to post, “THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH 🙏🙏🙏 I accept the Padma Shri with deep gratitude and humility. This honor bestowed upon me is beyond my wildest dreams and I receive it on behalf of my entire family, whose constant support and faith have been my greatest strength. This recognition is possible only due to the blessings of my mentors, the goodwill of my well-wishers, the love and encouragement of the public and above all, the grace of the Almighty. Each of them has played an invaluable role in shaping my journey and guiding me to this moment. I consider this not only a reward, but a responsibility.
Padma Awards 2026 Winners:
Here is the complete list of Padma Awards 2026 winners:
Padma Vibhushan 2026 Winners:
Widely regarded as the quintessential actor, Dharmendra was often called the “He-Man” of Bollywood, thanks to his numerous memorable action roles. Hailing from a village in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, he was born to a school teacher in 1935. While his family had no connection with the film industry, Dharmendra harbored dreams of acting from an early age. After winning a talent search in 1958, he made his film debut in 1960 at the age of 25 and subsequently became one of Bollywood’s most successful stars, achieving more hits than even Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
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Meanwhile, Mammootty is often regarded as one of the most celebrated and revered actors in the history of Indian cinema. He has won a record three National Film Awards for Best Actor, the second most awarded by any actor, an honor he shares with Kamal Haasan and Ajay Devgn. He has acted in more than 400 films in several languages.
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One of the most popular playback singers of Indian cinema, Alka Yagnik has sung thousands of songs in various film industries across the country. Piyush Pandey, who passed away in October last year, was one of the most influential creative minds in the Indian advertising landscape.