Bollywood star Aamir Khan, enjoying unprecedented public acclaim with his hit film "3 Idiots", has been conferred with Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian honour.

The 44-year-old, who struck gold at the box office with his latest outing "3 Idiots" that grossed over Rs.375 crore at the worldwide box office, is already a recipient of the Padma Shri.

Known as a perfectionist, Aamir began his film career as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's "Yaadon Ki Baraat" (1973) and then featured in "Madhosh" (1974).

He made his debut as full-fledged actor in Ketan Mehta's "Holi" (1984) however, he achieved overnight stardom in 1988 with "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak".

He followed it up with his first national award winning role in "Raakh" and successful movies like "Dil" (1990), "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin" (1991), "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" (1992), "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" (1993), "Andaz Apna Apna" (1994) and "Rangeela" (1995).

Khan continued to act in just one or two films a year and still does the same. Other hits of Aamir are "Raja Hindustani", "Ishq" and critically-acclaimed "Ghulam", "Sarfarosh" and "Earth".

In the new millenium, he appeared in hits like Oscar-nominated "Lagaan". In the same year he featured in "Dil Chahta Hai". After that he took a four year sabbatical and returned with Ketan Mehta's dud "Mangal Pandey: The Rising".

But he hit the bull's eye again with "Rang De Basanti" and after that blazed a new trail to success with "Taare Zameen Par", "Ghajini" and "3 Idiots".

Bollywood diva Rekha and Saif Ali Khan have been awarded Padma Shri this year.

Meanwhile, from sports, Saina Nehwal, Narain Karthikeyan and Virendra Sehwag have been selected for Padma Shri awards.

Padma Awards, the country's highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

‘Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field.

The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan sometime around March/ April.

This year the President has approved 130 awards including 13 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs.

These comprise 6 Padma Vibhushan, 43 Padma Bhushan and 81 Padma Shri awards. There are 17 women among the awardees.