Padma Awards 2026: Awardees Felicitated, Hema Malini Accepts Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Padma Awards 2026 were officially announced by the Government of India on 25 January 2026, on the eve of Republic Day, as part of the country's annual civilian honours. This year, a total of 131 individuals across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri categories were recognised for their contribution across fields ranging from art and public affairs to literature, education, sports, and social service.

The honours were later conferred at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held on 25 May 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the recipients.

Photo Credit: Instagram@naughtyworld/imharmanpreet_kaur

Among the most widely discussed moments of the ceremony was the posthumous honour conferred on legendary actor Dharmendra, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema. Since the award came after his passing in November 2025, it was received on his behalf by his wife, veteran actor and parliamentarian Hema Malini, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The moment carried a visible emotional weight. His daughter Ahaana Deol was seen overcome with emotion as Hema Malini stepped forward to accept the honour from President Droupadi Murmu, and the occasion briefly moved beyond protocol and ceremony. It became a public recognition of a film legacy that had already long settled into India's cultural memory.

Padma Vibhushan: The Highest Recognition

The Padma Vibhushan segment carried some of the most discussed names of the ceremony.

Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) was honoured for his contribution to Indian cinema, with the award received by Hema Malini.

Other recipients included:

• K. T. Thomas, former Supreme Court judge
• N. Rajam, legendary violinist
• P. Narayanan, writer and journalist
• V. S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous), former Kerala Chief Minister

Each name represented a different corner of public life, from law and governance to music and literature.

Padma Bhushan: Familiar Names, Mixed Presence

The Padma Bhushan list included several widely recognised figures from cinema, music, and business.

• Mammootty, Malayalam cinema icon (absent from ceremony)
• Alka Yagnik, playback singer (absent)
• R. Madhavan, actor (absent)
• Uday Kotak, banker and industrialist (present in the cycle of awardees)

The absence of some recipients was noticeable, but not unusual for the Padma ceremonies, where scheduling conflicts often keep awardees away from the Rashtrapati Bhavan event.

Padma Shri: On-Ground Celebrations And Presence

The Padma Shri segment had a more visible on-ground presence.

Prosenjit Chatterjee received his award in person at Rashtrapati Bhavan. His presence stood out in a ceremony where many recipients came from diverse regions and professional backgrounds.

Alongside familiar names from cinema and music, cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur received the Padma Shri in person, bringing a strong sporting presence to a ceremony otherwise dominated by film and cultural figures. Rohit Sharma, also among the Padma Shri 2026 awardees from cricket, was not present at the ceremony and is expected to receive his honour separately.

What the Ceremony Reflected This Year

The 2026 edition of the Padma Awards continued a familiar pattern, but with a noticeable emotional undertone in certain moments, especially the posthumous honours.

Dharmendra's recognition stood out not only because of his legacy in Indian cinema, but also because of the timing. His passing in 2025 meant the award arrived as a public farewell as much as a celebration. Similar posthumous honours, like that of V. S. Achuthanandan, added a reflective layer to the ceremony.

At the same time, the presence of figures from business, music, judiciary, and literature showed how the awards continue to balance popular culture with institutional contribution.

To conclude, some moments stood out more than others, especially when personal histories met public recognition. But at its core, the ceremony remained what it has always been: a national acknowledgement of work that has shaped the country in visible and invisible ways.

For many watching, it wasn't just about who received the awards. It was about what those names represent in everyday life, culture, and memory.