Kangana Ranaut, Adnan Sami receive Padma Shri award

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who recently won her 4th National Award, received the Padma Awards 2020 ceremony on Monday. The award ceremony is taking place in Delhi at the President House. Along with Kangana, singer Adnan Sami has also received the award, reports Times of India.

Kangana Ranaut, dressed in a gold saree, was pictured being presented the Padma Shri by President Kovind. Kangana, last seen in the Jayalalithaa biopic ‘Thalaivi’, also recently received the National Award for Best Actress for her performances in the films ‘Manikarnika’ and ‘Panga’.

Speaking about the honor, Kangana had earlier said, “I started my journey from a small village in Himachal Pradesh, and for me to be in the same league as these bigwigs we have grown up watching, whether it is Karan’s films or Ekta Kapoor’s serials… We knew these people, growing up. And who has not heard Adnan Sami ji’s songs? For a girl like me, to get a Padma Shri alongside them is a matter of pride.”

Adnan Sami is of Pakistani origin and became an Indian citizen in 2016; his Padma Shri was widely criticised when the honors list was announced in January with the Nationalist Congress Party calling it an “insult to 130 crore Indians.”

Other Bollywood celebs like Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor and late singer SP Balasubramaniam are among the Padma Shri awardees this year.

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.