Mumbai, Jan. 25 -- Veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty and renowned Bollywood singer Alka Yagnik will be conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian award, as the Centre on Sunday announced the names of the recipients of the coveted Padma Awards 2026 on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.

The awards will be presented later this year by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mammootty is widely regarded as one of India's most accomplished actors, with a global fan following.

He made his acting debut in a junior role in Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971 and has since built a remarkable body of work spanning multiple genres and languages.

Last year, in November, he bagged his seventh Best Actor award at the...