Here is the breakdown of the major entertainment honourees announced on the eve of Republic Day.
Dharmendra (Posthumous): A Final Salute 🎖️
The Award: Padma Vibhushan (Art).
The Context: The "He-Man" of Bollywood passed away recently on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89. This award serves as a posthumous tribute to his six-decade-long legacy, from Sholay to Rocky Aur Rani.
Family Reaction: The Deol family (Sunny, Bobby, Esha) is expected to receive the award on his behalf later this year at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Padma Bhushan Recipients (The 3rd Highest Honour) 🏅
Two other entertainment giants have been recognised for their lifelong contributions:
1. Mammootty
The Achievement: The Malayalam superstar receives the Padma Bhushan for his unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema. With over 400 films and 3 National Awards, this honour was long-awaited by his fans.
Viral Moment: Actor Kamal Haasan penned an emotional tribute to his "friend and rival," calling the award a proud moment for South Indian cinema.
2. Alka Yagnik
The Achievement: The legendary playback singer, whose voice defined the 90s and 2000s, has been honoured for her service to Art (Music).
The Impact: From Ek Do Teen to Agar Tum Saath Ho, Yagnik remains the most-streamed artist on YouTube globally, a testament to her enduring popularity.
Other Notable Winners
Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous): Former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan was also honoured posthumously for Public Affairs.
Padma Bhushan (Posthumous): Advertising genius Piyush Pandey (the man behind "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara"), who also passed away recently.
Padma Shri:
R. Madhavan: For his contribution to Arts and Cinema.
Satish Shah (Posthumous): The veteran comedian was honoured posthumously for his work in cinema and TV (Sarabhai vs Sarabhai).
SantaBanta Verdict: It is a bittersweet moment for Bollywood. While we celebrate the long-overdue recognition for Mammootty and Alka Yagnik, the posthumous honours for Dharmendra and Satish Shah remind us of the legends we lost in late 2025.
