Overview

• Ajith Kumar, Nandamuri Balakrishna, and Shekhar Kapur received the Padma Bhushan for their contributions to cinema and the arts.
• Singer Arijit Singh and composer Ricky Kej were awarded the Padma Shri, recognizing their impact on music.
• Pankaj Udhas was posthumously honoured with the Padma Bhushan, with his wife accepting the award on his behalf.
• The awards ceremony, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, was attended by top dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and live-streamed for public viewing.
• Ajith Kumar and Shekhar Kapur expressed gratitude for the recognition, dedicating their honours to the support of family, colleagues, and fans.