Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and writer-lyricist and advert guru Prasoon Joshi were named for the Padma Shri honour on Sunday on the eve of India’s 66th Republic Day.
They will receive the award for their contribution to art over the years.
Bhansali’s films showcase grandeur and originality and a knack for storytelling, with Khamoshi: The Musical, Devdas, Black and Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela.
The 51-year-old directed an opera in Paris in 2008 and in TV, co-produced the series Saraswatichandra.
“I feel I am at that stage of my life when all my hard work, all the knowledge and experiences that I’ve gathered over the years, have come to fruition. I feel more fulfilled and complete today than I did when I was 40.”
Bhansali is presently working on the period drama Bajirao Mastani featuring the Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela trio of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.
The film delves into the love story between Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I (Singh) and his second wife Mastani (Padukone). Chopra plays Kashibai, the first wife of Baji Rao.
Joshi is known for juggling the worlds of advertising and Bollywood.
“When years of hard work gets recognised, especially by the government, one feels humbled and motivated. Amongst my other awards, this honour is the most special because it would mean a lot to my parents and elders in the family and make them happy,” Joshi, known for his heart-warming lyrics in Maa from Taare Zameen Par, said in a statement.
“I want to thank our government and the committee who thought my work as a writer in the field of poetry cinema and communication is worthy of this prestigious recognition,” he added.
His debut script-writing venture was the successful Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Joshi penned an anthem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign. He is also the chairman of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, a global marketing firm.
Other awardees in the Art category are Kota Srinivasa Rao, Kanyakumari Avasarala, Naresh Bedi, Rahul Jain, Ravindra Jain, Prafulla Kar, Tarak Mehta, Neil Herbert Nongkynrih, Shekhar Sen, Mahesh Raj Soni and Tripti Mukherjee.
Late cartoonist Pran Kumar Sharma, also known as Pran, has been conferred the award posthumously.
