Tamil star Rajinikanth is to receive the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award. Anupam Kher and singer Udit Narayan will receive the Padma Bhushan. The Padma Shri goes to Ajay and Priyanka.
Filmmakers Nila Madhab Panda, S S Rajamouli and Madhur Bhandarkar will also receive the Padma Shri.
Veteran actor Saeed Jaffrey, who died at the age of 86 in November 2015, will also be awarded the Padma Shri posthumously.
Rajinikanth, Anupam Kher, Ajay Devgn and Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted their thanks:
Feeling deeply honoured for being awarded the Padma Vibhushan.My heartfelt thanks to my dear fans, well wishers & friends for all the wishes
— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) January 25, 2016Happy, Humbled & Honoured to share that i have been awarded The PADMA BHUSHAN by the Govt. of India. Greatest news of my life:) #JaiHind
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016I am humbled into silence with this honour from my country.
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) January 25, 2016I would like to thank my Producers,technicians,actors and my friends for this great honour and most importantly my family for their support
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) January 25, 2016Really grateful,honoured 2 be awarded Padma Shri.I accept it with all humility, this great respect bestowed by my Government and my country.
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) January 25, 2016Ajay Devgn's wife Kajol, who received the Padma Shri in 2011, tweeted:
Another Padmashri in the family. Congrats to my other half with lots of love & pride ! @ajaydevgn
— Kajol (@KajolAtUN) January 25, 2016Rajinikanth's daughters Aishwaryaa and Soundarya and son-in-law Dhanush tweeted about how thrilled and proud they were:
PADMA VIBHUSHAN RAJINIKANTH super proud daughter !!!!
— Aishwaryaa.R.Dhanush (@ash_r_dhanush) January 25, 2016Proud daughter !!!!! Appa is now Padma vibhushan shri Rajinikanth
— soundarya rajnikanth (@soundaryaarajni) January 25, 2016#Padmavibhushan for #Thalaivar #SUPERthrilled #SUPERproud #SUPERday #cantgetbigger
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 25, 2016Aishwaryaa also congratulated Priyanka and tennis player Sania Mirza, who is also on the list of awardees:
Big congratulations on your padma award @priyankachopra #girlpower
— Aishwaryaa.R.Dhanush (@ash_r_dhanush) January 25, 2016Congratulating @MirzaSania on her padma award ! #girlpower
— Aishwaryaa.R.Dhanush (@ash_r_dhanush) January 25, 2016Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty posted several tweets:
Huge Congratulation to @priyankachopra for the Padma award. You deserve it.Your hard work and commitment is to be followed,so happy for you.
— resul pookutty (@resulp) January 25, 2016Huge Congratulation to @AnupamPkher for the Padma Bhushan.So happy and proud of your work.
— resul pookutty (@resulp) January 25, 2016Huge Congratulation to @ajaydevgn for the Padma Award.So happy for you and kudos to all the good work you are doing.
— resul pookutty (@resulp) January 25, 2016Actress-politician Khushbu tweeted:
A huge congratulations to @ajaydevgn @priyankachopra @MirzaSania @NSaina @AnupamPkher on #Padmashri not #Padmabhushan honours.
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) January 25, 2016Sania Mirza was congratulated by her filmmaker-choreographer friend Farah Khan:
My heart is filled With pride at my friend @MirzaSania s padma Bhushan!lov u soooo much babypic.twitter.com/oj5Hus42YX
— Farah Khan (@TheFarahKhan) January 25, 2016Filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Ayushmann Khurrana posted tweets for badminton champion Saina Nehwal, also an awardee this year:
Huge congratulations @NSaina !!! So proud!!!
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 25, 2016Congrats @NSaina for Padma Bhushan! So proud. Salut!
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) January 25, 2016Music composer Vishal Dadlani congratulated both sports stars:
Congrats @MirzaSania & @NSaina , on your well-deserved Padma Bhushan awards! India is proud to have daughters like you!
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 25, 2016