(In pics) Padma awards: 66 celebs awarded

New Delhi, April 1: From scientists to artists, researchers and social workers, Rashtrapati Bhavan's Darbar Hall was glittering with stardom. A total of 12 personalities were conferred the Padma Bhushan, 1 was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and the rest 53 have been conferred the Padma Shri.

Eminent scientist RA Mashelkar was conferred the Padma Vibhushan; acclaimed artiste Kamal Haasan and ace shuttler P Gopichand and others were conferred the Padma Bhushan with 12 others.

Vidya Balan, Sunil Dabbas-the coach of the women's kabaddi team, Sudarshan Pattnaik were among the 53 others who were awarded the Padma Shri.

Anumolu Ramakrishna, a pioneer in the use of precast concrete technology was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously. He passed last year at the age of 73. Kaul (69) was awarded for his selfless dedication for the blind. He had lost his eyesight to smallpox at the age of five. The President reportedly climbed down from the podium to award him.

Among the guest of honours were Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, P Chidambaram, Union ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, Sharad Pawar and Sriprakash Jaiswal.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to actress Vidya Balan during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to well known activist for the visually challenged Jawahar Lal Kaul during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to Senior Guru of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Elam Indira Devi during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to Begum Parveen Sultana, Assamese Hindustani classical singer during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to Sarangi player Ustad Moinuddin Khan during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to eminent theatre director Bansi Kaul during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to Bengali actress Sabitri Chatterjee

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Shri to Bengali actress Sabitri Chatterjee during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Bhushan award to Susanne Hoeber Rudolph and Lloyd I Rudolph, professors of political science from the University of Chicago during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

Padma Bhushan awardee actor Kamal Haasan and Padam Shri awardee actress Vidya Balan during the Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

Padam Shri awardee actress Vidya Balan during Padma Awards 2014 function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Bhushan award to Vijayendra Nath Kaul , Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from 2002 to 2008 during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Bhushan award to percussionist T.H. Vikku Vinayakram during Padma Awards 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma bhushan award to Prof. Anisuzzaman, Professor Emeritus at the University of Dhaka, during Padma Awards 2014 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Vibhushan award to eminent scientist Raghunath Anant Mashelkar during Padma Awards 2014, Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

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