Over the years, artists from different genre have defined the generations in Indian Cinema with their versatility and their contribution towards cinema.
The stalwarts who have been prominent in Bollywood and in Indian cinema have received this honor based on the category of the performing arts who have shaped the artistic landscape of the entertainment industry in our country.
Here let’s look at some of the most illustrious list of Bollywood actors, actresses, and others who have been honored with the awards.
Amitabh Bachchan
The Big B of the Hindi film industry and also the Shahhenshah of Bollywood received this honor for his unmatched contribution to the Hindi cinema. He is one of the most accomplished and successful actors in the history of the Indian Cinema with his cinematic career spanning across five decades.
He is the recipient of the Padma Shri in 1984, Padma Bhushan in 2001, and Padma Vibhushan in 2015. Besides these awards, Amitabh Bachchan also was honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the four National Film Awards for his impressive and extensive contribution towards the Indian cinema.
Dilip Kumar
The Tragedy King of Indian cinema was awarded the Padma Bhushan. Muhammad Yusuf Khan, professionally known as Dilip Kumar an accomplished actor, ghost director and writer and film producer known best for his acting in Hindi cinema over a span of five decades. Dominated the film industry between the 1950’s and 1960’s.
He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and many other awards.
Aamir Khan
The Perfectionist of Bollywood film with a career spanning across 30 years, Aamir Khan was honored the Padma Bhushan in 2010 . He is one of the most established notable actors of Indian cinema. He is not only an actor but also a film maker, television personality and a producer.
Mr. Perfectionist as he is called is one of the actors who has received numerous prestigious accolades. Aamir Khan received Padma Bhushan in 2010 for his contribution to the cinema. He received the Padma Shri in 2003 besides other prestigious awards like National Treasure of India Award in 2017, R. K. Laxman Award for Excellence in 2026. Aamir Khan has been awarded four National Film Awards and nine Filmfare Awards. He also won the Academy Awards at Oscars for Best Foreign Language film for Lagaan in 2001. The film also awarded as the Best Asian Film and Douban Film Awards in China and many more.
Shah Rukh Khan
The King of Bollywood, the King Khan as he is referred to in the film industry is an actor, producer, and a highly influential film star of India. An entrepreneur and one of the most successful film actors of Bollywood. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his momentous impact and his very large contribution to the Indian film industry.
Shah Rukh Khan won the National Film Award in 2025 at the 71st National Film Awards in September 2025. Khan had won his first ever National Award for his role in Jawan. Khan has record of 16th Filmfare Awards and has been honored the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival in 2024 for Jawan, the IIFA Award and the Lifetime Achievement award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland for his global contribution to the cinema.
He was the recipient of the Padma Shri in 2005.
Rajinikanth
Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, known professionally as Rajinikanth is predominantly an actor in Tamil Films. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and a very popular actor of the Indian Cinema having worked in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla and Malayalam. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000. Rajinikanth was awarded India’s highest award in cinema with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019 and 2021. In 2016 he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan besides other awards like Kalaimanmani award in 1984, the M.G.R Award in 1989 both of which were by Government of Tamil Nadu.
Besides the Filmfare Awards, the IFFI Foth Anniversary for the Icon of Golden Jubilee Award, in 2019 and then again in 2025 as a Special Honor for completing 50 years in cinema. He was also awarded the Raj Kapoor Award in 2007 by Government of Maharashtra and Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for his excellence in Indian Cinema at the 4th Vijay Awards.
Mithun Chakraborty
The veteran actor, is a producer and a politician. An actor in the film industry spanning over five decades was well known as the ‘Disco King’ or the ‘Disco Dancer’. He has appeared in over 350 films across Hindi, Bengali and other regional languages.
Mithun Chakraborty was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2022/2024 at the 70th National Film Awards. In 2024, Mithun Chakraborty was awarded the Padma Bhushan. He was conferred for being recognized as an iconic film actor over five decades with over 350 films to his credit.
He has won 3 National Film Awards for Acting and is a recipient of multiple awards by Filmfare cementing his status as one of the biggest icons of Bollywood and Bengali film industry for his versatility that ranges from art films debut to mainstream debut.
He had also won the Apsara Awards in 2008.
Anupam Kher
He is an esteemed film actor, director and a producer who has appeared in over 540 films spanning across four decades of his film career. Known for his versatility, Anupam has transitioned from theatre to Hindi films to Indian cinema and has been in major international productions as well.
In 2026 Kher released his directorial, the much acclaimed and critical film Tanvi : The Great. It featured among the 201 eligible films and was considered or the 98th Academy Awards.
Anupam Kher is the recipient of Padma Shri 2004, Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution towards the Indian Cinema.
Paresh Rawal
With a career span of four decades, Paresh Rawal is an acclaimed actor, comedian and a film producer. He joined politics but is known for his versatility in Hindi cinema. He has appeared in over 240 films and transitioned from villain’s role in the 1990 to the Iconic comedy characters since 2000.
He has been honored for his contribution in arts and cinema with the Padma Shri in 2014, and multiple National Film Awards and several Filmfare Awards.
Kamal Haasan
Is a legendary filmmaker, an accomplished actor. A celebrated personality known for his versatility as an actor, director, screenwriter, producer and a playback singer. He has influenced the Indian cinema significantly in his career spanning six decades. A recipient of four National Film Awards and holds a record of 20 Filmfare Awards and is also the recipient of the Padma Shri in 1990, Padma Bhushan in 2014 besides few more awards in Foreign Language films.
Mohanlal
The legendary actor, producer and a playback singer predominantly in Malayalam cinema will be a starring in Drishyam 3, one of the most anticipated sequels in Hindi cinema, slated for its release in April 2026.
Mohanlal has been in the film industry for over four decades and has completed 360 films. He is considered as one of the most versatile actors of the Indian cinema.
Mohanlal has been awarded the National Film Awards for five times, and has earned the Highest Civilians Awards, Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2019 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2025 bestowed upon him by the Government of India for his outstanding contribution towards arts and cinema.
Mammootty
Is a veteran actor recognized for his work in cinema. The superstar is a film producer who dominated the Malayalam cinema spanning across for five decades. He has appeared in 425 films in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and English.
For his significant contribution to the entertainment segment and for his achievements in his career, the Government of India has conferred upon him the Padma Bhushan on January 25th 2026. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri in 1998 and is recognized as one of the most distinguished personalities.
Dharmendra
The legendary He-Man of the Bollywood has received several prestigious civilian honors during his life pan. However he was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honor on 25th January 2026 which was most recent after his passing away.
He had garnered a massive stardom for the legacy he carried on for which he was a recipient of National Film Award in 1990, the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award in 2021and many others Filmfare Awards. Dharmendra was one of the most brilliant actors of his era and has contributed largely to the film industry.
He had produced the action film Ghayal which was the second highest grossing movie of that year in 1990.
R. Madhavan
Is a highly acclaimed film actor, director and a screen writer is known for his versatility in his career in Tamil and Hindi films.
A recipient of the Padma Shri Award conferred to him on January 25th 2026, for his outstanding contribution to the field of Art and Cinema.
R Madhavan had gained national fame in Mani Ratnam’s Alay Payuthey in 2000 and he did his Bollywood debut in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein in 2001.
He has to his credit some of the well-known films which are notable blockbuster in Hindi cinema.
His most recent being the Dhurandhar 2025 and the recently released thriller Hisaab Barabar.
To be continued with recipient of Padma Bhushan with more actors, actresses and in other fields and categories such as Musicians and Filmmakers.
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