The star, juggling a successful career as a motorsport racer and team owner, is also a State-level shooting champion. Photo: X/@rashtrapatibhvn
Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday (April 28). The actor, as announced in January, is among the 19 Padma Bhushan awardees announced by the Union government.
Earlier today, photos and videos featuring the actor and his family from the Chennai airport went viral on social media.
One of the leading stars of Indian cinema, Ajith has starred in more than 60 films in a career spanning more than three decades. Following a brief appearance in 1990’s En Veedu En Kanavar, the actor debuted as a lead in 1993’s Amaravathi. After starring in predominantly romance-centric films, the star transitioned into an action hero over the turn of the century, with films like Amarkalam, Dheena, and Citizen.
Films like Varalaaru, Billa, and Mankatha further cemented his position as one of the leading superstars of Tamil cinema. A Kalaimamani awardee, Ajith has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. The star was recently seen in Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Thirumeni, and Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran.
Back in January, Ajith had expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for the honour. In a statement, he said, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the esteemed Padma Award from the President of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for this prestigious honour. It is a privilege to be recognised at such a level, and I am truly grateful for this generous acknowledgement 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.”
The star, juggling a successful career as a motorsport racer and team owner, is also a State-level shooting champion. Last week, on April 20, his racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, secured the second position at the prestigious Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Meanwhile, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna and veteran director Shekhar Kapur were also awarded the Padma Bhushan at the ceremony. Other notable awardees from the field of cinema include Anant Nag for Padma Bhushan, Shobana Chandrakumar for Padma Bhushan, and Ricky Kej for Padma Shri.
Noted Malayalam author and screenwriter M. T. Vasudevan Nair, who passed away last year at 91, has been posthumously conferred the Padma Vibhushan alongside late singer Pankaj Udhas.
The Padma awards, among the nation’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Padma awards encompass a range of disciplines, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry and others.
Published – April 28, 2025 07:59 pm IST