Padma Awards 2026 announced: Dharmendra, Mammootty among honourees

The recipients of the Padma Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising contributions across fields including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, literature, sports and civil service.

In the field of arts, iconic Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025, will be conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. One of the most celebrated figures in Hindi cinema, he had earlier received the Padma Bhushan in 2012.

Legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty, playback singer Alka Yagnik and advertising professional Piyush Pandey have been named recipients of the Padma Bhushan this year.
According to the official list, five individuals will receive the Padma Vibhushan, 13 the Padma Bhushan, and 113 the Padma Shri.

Among those awarded the Padma Shri are actors R Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Satish Shah, Murali Mohan and Rajendra Prasad. The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year.

The announcement prompted reactions from several awardees and their families. Reacting to the honour bestowed on her late husband, Hema Malini wrote on X that she was proud the government had recognised Dharmendra’s immense contribution to cinema.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi News, Mammootty described the recognition as a moment of great happiness, saying there was no honour greater than one bestowed by the country.

R Madhavan, in a post on Instagram, expressed gratitude and humility, stating that he accepted the Padma Shri as both an honour and a responsibility.

Widely known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, Dharmendra was born in 1935 in a village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. After winning a talent hunt in 1958, he made his film debut in 1960 and went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s most successful leading men.

Mammootty, regarded as one of the most respected actors in Indian cinema, has acted in over 400 films and won three National Film Awards for Best Actor, a record he shares with Kamal Haasan and Ajay Devgn.