Apart from Akshay, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was also the proud recipient of the Padma Shri, regarded as one of the top civilian honors in the country.

Besides Akshay and Ash, veteran actress and dancing queen of yesteryears Helen was also bestowed with the Padma Shri for her contribution to art and cinema.

From the field of music, playback singers Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan, Ghazal singer Penaaz Masani and music composer Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar also made it to the list of Padma Shri awardees this year.