Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lyricist Prasoon Joshi collected their Padma awards from President Pranab Mukherjee at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi today. Mr Bhansali and Mr Joshi received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the director of films such as Guzaarish and Black. He produced last year's Mary Kom, starring Priyanka Chopra. Adman Prasoon Joshi has written lyrics for films such as Rang De Basanti, Taare Zameen Par and Mr Bhansali's Black.
Among other Padma honorees who received their awards today were Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who received the Bharat Ratna - India's highest civilian award - posthumously. Senior BJP leader LK Advani and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.
The Padma awards are given out in two batches - today's ceremony is the first of this year's batches. Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar are yet to receive their awards, the Padma Vibhushan.
