Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on Monday, April 28. The announcement of Ajith’s name among the 19 Padma Bhushan recipients had been made earlier in January by the Union government.
Photos and videos of Ajith and his family at the Chennai airport surfaced online earlier in the day, going viral as fans celebrated the momentous occasion.
Ajith Kumar, with over 60 films to his credit, has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. Starting with a small role in En Veedu En Kanavar (1990), he made his debut as a lead in Amaravathi (1993). He initially starred in romantic dramas before redefining his career with iconic action roles in films such as Amarkalam, Dheena, and Citizen. He solidified his superstardom with Varalaaru, Billa, and Mankatha.
A recipient of the Kalaimamani Award and three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Ajith was last seen in Vidaamuyarchi (directed by Magizh Thirumeni) and Good Bad Ugly (directed by Adhik Ravichandran).
In January, upon learning of the honour, Ajith had expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India, saying,
“I am deeply humbled and honoured… This recognition is not just a personal accolade but a testament to the collective efforts and support of many.”
Beyond cinema, Ajith is an avid motorsport enthusiast, a state-level shooting champion, and team owner of Ajith Kumar Racing, which recently clinched second place at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium on April 20.
Other prominent Padma Bhushan awardees from the world of cinema included Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shekhar Kapur, Anant Nag, and Shobana Chandrakumar, while Ricky Kej received the Padma Shri. Legendary Malayalam writer and screenwriter M. T. Vasudevan Nair and iconic singer Pankaj Udhas were posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
The Padma Awards, conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — celebrate achievements across disciplines like art, public affairs, science, social work, and more.
