Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was conferred with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. The Padma Shri is India’s fourth-highest civilian award. He was honoured for his contribution to Indian cinema, particularly Bengali films, and received the award amid loud applause. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
Dressed in a cream kurta, Prosenjit accepted the medal and citation with folded hands at the ceremony. He joined 113 Padma Shri recipients announced for the 2026 honours.
Also Read: Padma Awards 2026: List of cinema, music and theatre icons honoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The announcement
On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of the Padma Awards.
Prosenjit Chatterjee was named alongside individuals from the fields of art, education, sports, and other disciplines. He was conferred the award in the category of Art, representing West Bengal.
What Prosenjit said then
In a self-made video, the actor expressed his feelings. “I am really thankful and grateful that the Indian government has awarded me the Padma Shri. I have been working for the past 40 years, and people around me, including my producers, directors, and co-actors, have contributed to my journey. This is not just my achievement, but it belongs to everyone else who made me, Prosenjit Chatterjee,” he said.
He also dedicated the honour to his late mother.
Career spanning decades
Prosenjit Chatterjee was born on September 30, 1962. He works primarily in Bengali cinema and is one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. His fans call him “Jyeshthoputro” and “Mr. Industry.”
He made his acting debut as a child artist in the 1968 film ‘Chotto Jigyasa’, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His breakthrough role as a lead actor came in the 1987 Bengali film ‘Amar Sangi’, and he made his Bollywood debut in 1990 with the film ‘Aandhiyan’. Over his career, he has made over 250 films in Bengali, Hindi, and Odia.
His father, Biswajit Chatterjee, was a prominent Bollywood and Bengali actor, director, and producer, while his mother, Ratna Chatterjee, was an actress.
Notable films and awards
He delivered notable performances in films such as ‘Chokher Bali’, ‘Autograph’, ‘Baishe Srabon’, and Moner Manush’. He also expanded his reach through Hindi projects including ‘Shanghai’, ‘Jubilee’, ‘Khakee: The Bengal Chapter’.
Apart from the Padma award, he has earned two National Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards, and six BFJA Awards. He received the Mahanayak Samman in 2013 and the Banga Bibhushan in 2018.
Prosenjit holds the record for the most Best Actor awards in the history of the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards.