Tamil actor Ajith Kumar has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his exceptional contribution to the arts. The ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 28, where the actor was presented with the prestigious award by President Droupadi Murmu. Ajith was accompanied by his family and witnessed by several ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ajith Reflects on His Journey, Expresses Gratitude for the Honour

In a heartfelt statement during the announcement of the award earlier this year, Ajith shared his immense gratitude for the recognition. He said, “It is a privilege to be recognised at such a level and I am truly grateful for this generous acknowledgment of my contributions to our nation. At the same time, I am mindful that this recognition is not just a personal accolade but a testament to the collective efforts and support of many. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the film industry, including my distinguished seniors, various peers, and untold others. Your inspiration, collaboration, and support have been instrumental in my journey, including the pursuit of my passion in other areas as well.”

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Ajith’s Expansive Career

Ajith Kumar has enjoyed an illustrious 32-year career in the film industry, with an impressive portfolio of 63 films to his name. He made his debut in 1992 with Amaravathi and went on to star in numerous iconic Tamil films, including Ullaasam, Vaalee, Amarkalam, Kandukondain Kandukondain, Dheena, Citizen, Villain, Billa, Mankatha, Arrambam, Veeram, Yennai Arindhal, and Nerkonda Paarvai. His cameo in the Tamil adaptation of English Vinglish and his role as prince Susima in the Hindi film Asoka also stand out in his career.

The actor had two major releases in 2025: the road thriller Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Thirumeni, and the action drama Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran. Ajith has also made waves in motorsport. His racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, claimed third place in the 991 category and the ‘Spirit of the Race’ title at the 24H series race in the UAE earlier this year. His team further secured second place at the prestigious Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Other Film Industry Honorees at the Padma Awards

In addition to Ajith Kumar, several other notable figures from the film industry were also recognised at the ceremony. Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, director Shekhar Kapur, actress Shobana, and actor Anant Nag were all conferred with the Padma Bhushan for their remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. The late writer MT Vasudevan Nair was honored posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, one of India’s highest awards for distinguished service.

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