Aishwarya Rai wins Padma Award

The Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has been honored with Padma Shri award. This photo shows Aishwarya Rai receiving the award from the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil.

The legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai’s father-in-law, who was present in the award ceremony said, "She will become the 5th Padma Award recipient in our family. First my father was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, then the Padma Shri for me, followed again by the Padma Bhushan to me some years later, Jaya’s Padma Shri and now Aishwarya’s."

Famous playback singer of yesteryear, Shamshad Begum, and director of the central board of Reserve Bank of India, Ashok Shekhar Ganguly were among other prominent persons to get the award from the President at the function in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Padma Shri (also spelt as Padmashri, Padma Shree or Padmashree), an award given by the Government of India, generally to Indian citizens, is to recognize significant contributions to national life by distinguished persons in the fields of arts, education, industry, literature, science, sports, social service, public life, etc.