Republic Day 2026: Entertainment Icons Dharmendra and Mammootty Among 131 Padma Award Recipients
On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Government of India announced the prestigious Padma Awards, honouring exceptional contributions across various fields. Among the prominent entertainment personalities recognized this year are veteran actor Dharmendra and Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty, highlighting the strong representation from the arts and entertainment fraternity.
Posthumous Honour for Dharmendra and Padma Bhushan for Mammootty
Dharmendra, the beloved Bollywood actor with a career spanning over six decades, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. This recognition celebrates his immense contribution to Indian cinema and his enduring legacy as one of Hindi film industry's most iconic stars.
Meanwhile, Mammootty, the celebrated actor of Malayalam cinema, has received the Padma Bhushan for his outstanding work in Indian cinema. With numerous critically acclaimed performances and a career that has inspired generations, Mammootty's honour underscores the diversity of talent being recognized across India's regional film industries.
Alka Yagnik and Other Notable Awardees
Renowned playback singer Alka Yagnik has also been conferred the Padma Bhushan, acknowledging her decades-long impact on Indian music. Her melodious voice has been an integral part of Bollywood's musical landscape since the 1980s, making this recognition particularly significant.
Other notable posthumous honours include:
- Late advertising icon Piyush Pandey receiving Padma Bhushan
- Veteran actor Satish Shah honoured with Padma Shri
- Left stalwart and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan awarded Padma Vibhushan
- Late JMM founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren among the honourees
Comprehensive List of 131 Padma Awards Approved
President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards this year, including two duo cases that are counted as one award. The official breakdown includes:
- 5 Padma Vibhushan awards
- 13 Padma Bhushan awards
- 113 Padma Shri honours
The awards showcase remarkable diversity, with 16 posthumous honours, 19 women recipients, and 6 foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs among the awardees.
Distinguished Recipients Across Categories
The Padma Vibhushan recipients include distinguished personalities such as former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas (Public Affairs), classical violinist N. Rajam (Art), and P. Narayanan (Literature and Education).
Among Padma Bhushan awardees are:
- Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari
- US-based physician Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu
- Industrialist Uday Kotak
- Veteran BJP leader and former MP V.K. Malhotra
- SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan
Sports and Academic Personalities Recognized
The Padma Shri list features prominent sports and academic figures, including:
- India women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar
- Former Indian men's cricket team captain Rohit Sharma
- Women's hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia
- Former UGC Chairman and JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar
Understanding the Padma Awards System
The Padma Awards represent one of India's highest civilian honours, conferred in three distinct categories across various fields including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan recognizes distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field. This year's awards continue the tradition of celebrating excellence and service to the nation across diverse sectors and regions.
The Republic Day 2026 Padma Awards list reflects India's rich tapestry of talent and achievement, honouring individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation's cultural, social, and professional landscape.
