President Droupadi Murmu honored several artists with the Padma Awards on May 28 in New Delhi. The list of awardees includes veteran actor Anant Nag, who received the Padma Bhushan, and Ashok Saraf, who was awarded the Padma Shri. Music composer Ricky Kej also received the Padma Shri, while actress Shobana Chandrakumar was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to the arts.
Other notable recipients of the Padma Bhushan include Telugu actors Nandamuri Balakrishna and Ajit Kumar, as well as film director Shekhar Kapur. The late singer Pankaj Udhas was also posthumously awarded the Padma Shri.
According to India Today, Ricky Kej felt like he was in a temple when he received his award, and he was proud to be among unsung heroes. Actor Manoj Bajpayee took to Instagram to express his joy over his guru, Barry John, receiving the Padma Shri, saying that his trust had shaped his life.
The Padma Awards for 2025 were announced on January 25, with the first ceremony taking place on April 28. The event saw several notable artists receiving their awards, including Nandamuri Balakrishna, Ajit Kumar, and Shekhar Kapur.