- By Aarushi Raina
- Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Padma Awards 2025: Celebrities including Ajith Kumar, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Sekhar Kapur and Arijit Singh were among the notable names from the entertainment industry honoured with Padma Awards by President Droupadi Murmu. The event, which took place on Monday (April 28) at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, also honoured several eminent personalities from other walks of life.
Celebrities who were honoured with Padma Awards in 2025
Nandamuri Balakrishna arrived in traditional attire to receive Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for his outstanding contribution to the film industry. Actor Ajith Kumar came decked up in a suit for the same honour. <
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Bhushan in the field of Art to Shri S. Ajith Kumar. He is a towering figure in Indian cinema, particularly in the Tamil film industry. His ability to portray a wide spectrum of characters has cemented his reputation as one of the most… pic.twitter.com/ZDrBFoNiSu
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2025
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Bhushan in the field of Art to Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna. He is a popular actor in the Telugu Cinema. During a career spanning over five decades, he acted in films of various genres and enacted memorable roles. He is also recognised for… pic.twitter.com/9ACBGQfOTj
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2025
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur was also honoured with Padma Bhushan award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian and international cinema.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Bhushan in the field of Art to Shri Shekhar Kapur. He is a visionary filmmaker whose work spans Indian and International cinema. From redefining Indian cinema with Bandit Queen to earning global acclaim with Elizabeth, he has… pic.twitter.com/c6RkqZrMFK
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2025
Veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas also was honoured posthumously with Padma Bhushan in the field of Art. The award was received by his wife.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Bhushan in the field of Art on Shri Pankaj Keshubhai Udhas (Posthumous). He was a versatile singer and he added to the popularity of ghazals. His influence spread across different segments of music lovers. He was also deeply committed… pic.twitter.com/VbNJL9J7Yk
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2025
The Padma Shri were awarded to the personalities including singer Arijit Singh, music composer Ricky Kej, actor Ashok Laxman Saraf, theatre director Barry John, singer Jaspinder Narula, and classical vocalist Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande.
The awards were announced in January. After the news, Ajith said in a statement “I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the esteemed Padma Award by the President of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for this prestigious honour. It is a privilege to be recognized at such a level and I am truly grateful for this generous acknowledgement of my contributions to our nation.” Shekhar Kapur also expressed his excitement when he was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award.
About Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours. They recognise outstanding contributions across various disciplines and fields, including public affairs, science and engineering, health, medicine, social work, literature, education, sports, and civil services. The 2025 awards ceremony was marked by awardees from the entertainment and music industries. The event was streamed live on YouTube.