NEW DELHI: Women dominated this year's Padma awards for sports with
tennis star Sania Mirza and ace shuttler Saina Nehwal getting the nod
for the Padma Bhushan, while archer Deepika Kumari was chosen for the
Padma Shri on Monday.
Tamil film actor Rajinikanth and
classical singer Girija Devi were on Monday selected for Padma
Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, while Anupam Kher,
Udit Narayan, Priyanka Chopra and Ajay Devgn are among other Padma
honourees from Bollywood.
Rajinikanth
(65), one of the most celebrated actors of his generations with fans
according him the status of a demi-god, is already a recipient of Padma
Bhushan.
Responding to the announcement, his daughter Soundarya tweeted, “Proud daughter!!!!! Appa is now Padma vibhushan shri Rajinikanth.”
Since making his debut with K Balachander’s “Aboorva Ragangal” in 1975, the actor saw a steady rise to stardom, which continues even today. The Tamil superstar has also acted in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali films. His famous movies are “Thalapathi”, “Nallavanuku Nallavan”, “Sivaji” and “Enthiran” among many others.
Devi, 86, already a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, is known as thumri queen for popularising the genre. She is also an exponent of khyal and tappa.
Kher, known for his outstanding character roles in a career spanning over three decades, will receive Padma Bhushan with Narayan, who ruled Bollywood playback singing in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
The “Saaransh” actor said he was “happy, humbled and honoured” to be recognised.
“Today the son of an exiled Kashmiri Pandit, who worked as a clerk in the forest department of a small town, has received the coveted Padma Bhushan in recognition of his hard work. Thank you my country,” Kher tweeted.
Both Kher and Narayan are already Padma Shri winners.
Actors Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra, 33, have been named for Padma Shri awards, besides a posthumous Padma Shri for actor Saeed Jaffrey.
Responding to the announcement, his daughter Soundarya tweeted, “Proud daughter!!!!! Appa is now Padma vibhushan shri Rajinikanth.”
Since making his debut with K Balachander’s “Aboorva Ragangal” in 1975, the actor saw a steady rise to stardom, which continues even today. The Tamil superstar has also acted in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali films. His famous movies are “Thalapathi”, “Nallavanuku Nallavan”, “Sivaji” and “Enthiran” among many others.
Devi, 86, already a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, is known as thumri queen for popularising the genre. She is also an exponent of khyal and tappa.
Kher, known for his outstanding character roles in a career spanning over three decades, will receive Padma Bhushan with Narayan, who ruled Bollywood playback singing in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
The “Saaransh” actor said he was “happy, humbled and honoured” to be recognised.
“Today the son of an exiled Kashmiri Pandit, who worked as a clerk in the forest department of a small town, has received the coveted Padma Bhushan in recognition of his hard work. Thank you my country,” Kher tweeted.
Both Kher and Narayan are already Padma Shri winners.
Actors Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra, 33, have been named for Padma Shri awards, besides a posthumous Padma Shri for actor Saeed Jaffrey.