Padma Awards 2025: Ajith Kumar Receives Padma Bhushan for His Contribution to Indian Cinema

Tamil cinema star Ajith Kumar was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in a grand ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 28. President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious honour to the actor, recognising his significant contributions to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than 30 years.

Ajith, who was among the 19 Padma Bhushan recipients announced by the Union Government in January, was spotted at the Chennai airport earlier in the day, accompanied by his family. Images and videos of their departure quickly made waves on social media, underlining his continued popularity.

Having made his first screen appearance in 1990 with En Veedu En Kanavar, Ajith debuted as a lead in 1993’s Amaravathi. Initially known for his romantic roles, he seamlessly transitioned into action cinema in the early 2000s with films such as Amarkalam, Dheena, and Citizen. His performances in Varalaaru, Billa, and Mankatha solidified his place as a top-tier star in Tamil cinema.

Apart from cinema, Ajith is a multi-talented personality. A trained motorcar racer and State-level shooting champion, he balances his on-screen success with off-screen passions. Recently, on April 20, his racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, secured second place at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

In a statement released in January, Ajith expressed his deep appreciation for the honour. “I am truly humbled to receive the Padma Award. It’s not just a personal milestone but a reflection of the support and love I’ve received throughout my journey,” he said.

The actor also credited his wife, former actor Shalini Ajith, for his success, and said that she had made many sacrifices to help him reach where he is today.

In a conversation with ANI , the actor also expressed his grief and condolences over the April 22 attack in Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Kashmir. He said, “My heart goes out to all the families, and I hope and pray that such things don’t happen. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed and pray that somewhere over a period of time, we all learn to empathise with one another and then keep all our differences aside and live as a peaceful society.”

Having met people from the armed forces, he saluted them for their sacrifices as well. "They work very hard so that we are able to sleep peacefully,” he said. Ajith urged citizens to respect one another and every religion and caste.

Other notable Padma Bhushan recipients from the film fraternity include actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and actor Anant Nag. Shobana Chandrakumar was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, while musician Ricky Kej received the Padma Shri. The late M. T. Vasudevan Nair and singer Pankaj Udhas were posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.

Several other celebrities congratulated the recipients of the awards. On X, actor-politician Pawan Kalyan wished Ajith, writing, “He has made a unique mark in the screen world. He also excels as a Formula 2 racer. I wish Mr Ajith Kumar many more successes as an actor and car racer." He also extended his congratulations to Balakrishna, posting, “His style in historical, religious and folk roles impresses the audience immensely. I wish Mr. Balakrishna to do more in public service and art service."

The Padma Awards, announced annually on Republic Day, honour exceptional service across a variety of disciplines including the arts, public affairs science and social work.