New Delhi, April 28 -- Veteran actor and Andhra Pradesh MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna is "overjoyed" on becoming a Padma Bhushan recipient.

On Monday evening, Balakrishna was felicitated with the Padma Award by President Droupadi Murmu at a prestigious ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking with ANI, Balakrishna expressed his gratitude to the government for recognising his contribution to Indian cinema.

"I am overjoyed...I am thankful to my fans. I also thank the Government of India. In 50 years of my career, my work as an MLA, my hospital is one of the five big hospitals in the country, and this is a matter of great joy. I thank everyone. People told me that I should have been awarded the Padma award much earlier, but I told them t...