Actor Dulquer Salmaan has called his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi an 'absolute privilege,' sharing the sentiment publicly after attending the Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 23 June 2026, where his father, veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan.

Dulquer's Tribute to His Father

Dulquer posted a series of photographs on social media featuring himself, Mammootty, and other family members alongside Prime Minister Modi. In his caption, the 42-year-old actor wrote: 'An absolute privilege to meet and spend time with our Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji as we witnessed my father, Shri Mammootty being honoured for a lifetime of extraordinary work. A truly unforgettable day for our family. #PadmaAwards #2026.'

The post underscored the personal significance of the occasion — not merely as a national honour, but as a family milestone for one of Indian cinema's most celebrated dynasties.

The Second Padma Ceremony: Key Awardees

The 23 June event marked the second Padma Awards ceremony of the year, at which 65 individuals were felicitated — comprising 2 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. Alongside Mammootty, actors R Madhavan and singer Alka Yagnik were among those from the entertainment world to receive recognition. The first ceremony, held on 26 May, had honoured 66 recipients.

Mammootty's Padma Bhushan: A Career in Context

The Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, was conferred on Mammootty for a career spanning over four decades in Malayalam cinema. The actor is widely regarded as one of the pillars of Indian regional cinema, with a body of work that has shaped the Malayalam film industry's identity on the national stage. His son Dulquer's presence at the ceremony added a generational dimension to the recognition.

Dulquer Salmaan: A Career Across Languages

Dulquer made his acting debut with Second Show in 2012 and steadily built his reputation through Malayalam films including ABCD, Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, and Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, before breaking into mainstream recognition with Bangalore Days. He consolidated his standing with critically acclaimed Malayalam releases such as Vikramadithyan, Charlie, Kali, Kammatti Paadam, Jomonte Suvisheshangal, and Kurup.

His highest-grossing work came through Telugu productions — Mahanati, Sita Ramam, and Lucky Baskhar. He entered Hindi cinema in 2018 with Karwaan, directed by Akarsh Khurana, alongside the late Irrfan Khan, and subsequently appeared in The Zoya Factor with Sonam Kapoor and Chup: Revenge of the Artist featuring Sunny Deol. Most recently, in April 2026, he launched the trailer of director Kasyap Srinivas's upcoming comedy drama Gaayapadda Simham, co-starring Tharun Bhascker, Manasa Choudhary, and Faria Abdullah.

As Mammootty joins India's roll of Padma Bhushan laureates, the ceremony signals continued recognition of regional cinema's outsized contribution to Indian cultural life.