Chiranjeevi Receives Padma Vibhushan from President Droupadi Murmu
Following the announcement of the awards on Republic Day, Chiranjeevi was officially presented with the honor at a ceremony held in New Delhi on Thursday[web_storiesÂ
The Padma Awards ceremony took place in New Delhi on Thursday. Actor Chiranjeevi, honored with the Padma Vibhushan, received the prestigious award from President Droupadi Murmu during the ceremony. Among the attendees were his wife, Surekha, and son, Ram Charan, accompanied by his wife, Upasana Konidela. Other recipients of Padma awards this year include Vyjayanthimala, Mithun Chakraborty, Vijaykant, and Usha Uthup.
Chiranjeevi receives Padma Vibhushan
Wearing a distinguished dark bandhgala suit, Chiranjeevi respectfully greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi before accepting the scroll from the President. Surekha, Ram, and Upasana beamed with joy as he was honored with the award. Chiranjeevi occupied his seat among the other recipients of the honor, sharing a space beside veteran actor Vyjayanthimala until his turn to receive the award.
Upon receiving the award, Chiranjeevi expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am truly overwhelmed, humbled, and thankful. It is the unwavering love of the audience, my friends, and my family that I am indebted to. This life and this moment belong to you. I have always endeavored to show my appreciation in various ways, but words will never suffice.”
Chiranjeevi’s filmography
Having appeared in over 160 films throughout his extensive career, Chiranjeevi was previously honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2006, marking this as his second Padma Award. The esteemed actor, soon to grace the screens in Vishwambhara directed by Vassishta of Bimbisara fame, once contemplated stepping away from the film industry. Entering the realm of politics, he temporarily paused his acting endeavors after his 2007 film Shankar Dada Zindabad and established the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. However, he eventually returned to his passion for cinema in 2017 with Khaidi No 150.
Philanthropic pursuits
As well-known as he is for acting, Chiranjeevi is also notable for being philanthropic. He founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust in 1998, which includes his now-famous eye and blood banks. In the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, he set up oxygen banks and ambulances for patients. He launched a vaccine drive for film workers apart from collecting donations from stars for those who lost jobs due to halted film shoots.
