President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian honor, upon veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, on Monday.
The veteran actor received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
Affectionately known as ‘Mithun Da’ by his fans, the actor began his film journey with the 1976 movie ‘Mrigayaa’ captivating audiences with his versatile acting prowess ever since. His depiction of a Santhal rebel in his debut film earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Subsequently, he clinched two more National Film Awards for his performances in ‘Tahader Katha’ (1992) and ‘Swami Vivekananda’ (1998).
Throughout his illustrious career spanning decades, Mithun Da also established himself as a prominent figure in the world of music, appearing in hit dance tracks such as ‘I Am a Disco Dancer (Disco Dancer),’ ‘Jimmy Jimmy (Disco Dancer),’ and ‘Super Dancer (Dance Dance).’
Mithun Da was most recently featured in Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files.’
The Padma Awards, established in 1954, stand as one of India’s highest civilian honors and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a higher order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service). The awards aim to acknowledge achievements across all fields of activity or disciplines with an element of public service.
The Padma Awards are granted based on recommendations put forth by the Padma Awards Committee, formed annually by the Prime Minister. This committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, comprises the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six distinguished individuals as members. Following the committee’s recommendations, the Prime Minister and the President of India review and approve the final selections.