Legendary actor Dharmendra, comedian and actor Satish Shah, and advertising expert Piyush Pandey will be honoured with the Padma Awards posthumously. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the list ahead of India's 77th Republic Day 2026, recognising their outstanding contributions to Indian arts and culture.
Dharmendra will always be remembered as one of Bollywood's most beloved actors. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor and comedian Satish Shah impressed fans with his unforgettable comic performances, while Piyush Pandey changed the face of Indian advertising with his creativity and vision.
Posthumous recipients of Padma Awards
1. Dharmendra
Dharmendra, also known as the He-Man of Bollywood, passed away at the age of 89 on November 24, 2025. Over a career spanning decades, he appeared in more than 300 films across various genres. He was last seen posthumously in the war drama film Ikkis, which released on January 1, 2026. The film was directed by Sriram Raghavan and also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Agastya Nanda, and Simar Bhatia in key roles. He will be honoured with Padma Vibhushan award posthumously.
2. Satish Shah
Veteran Bollywood and TV actor Satish Shah, known for his roles in serials and films like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Kal Ho Naa Ho. He died due to kidney failure on October 25, 2025, at the age of 74. Satish Shah will be honoured with the Padma Shri award posthumously.
3. Piyush Pandey
Piyush Pandey was a prominent figure in Indian advertising, known for creating some of the country's most memorable campaigns, including 'Humara Bajaj', the 'Do Boond Zindagi Ki' polio campaign, and the 2014 'Abki Baar, Modi Sarkar' election campaign. He passed away on October 23, 2025. He also created created several campaigns for leading brands like Cadbury and Fevicol. Piyush Pandey has been conferred the Padma Bhushan award posthumously.
Also Read: Padma Awards: Dharmendra, Satish Shah, Mammootty, R Madhavan named for honours
