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Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours, and every year their announcement generates widespread discussion. While many recipients are widely appreciated, some selections often become subjects of debate. There have even been occasions when distinguished personalities reportedly declined a Padma honour, believing they deserved a higher recognition.

Veteran Telugu actor and producer Murali Mohan, who was conferred the Padma Shri this year, has now shared an interesting insight into the selection process followed by the Union Government before the awards are officially announced.

Speaking in a recent interview, Murali Mohan revealed that officials from the Union Home Ministry contacted him well in advance of the announcement. After verifying his personal details, they asked whether he would be willing to accept the Padma Shri if selected.

According to the veteran actor, the officials explained that the government now seeks consent from prospective awardees because some personalities have declined Padma honours in the past, stating they deserved a higher category of award. Seeking prior approval helps avoid such situations after the official announcement.

Murali Mohan also shared that receiving a Padma Award had always been one of his long-cherished aspirations. Although many well-wishers felt he deserved the honour much earlier, he understood that it is not always easy for authorities in New Delhi to identify every deserving personality from different parts of the country.

Interestingly, the officials instructed him to keep the information completely confidential until the awards were officially announced—not even sharing it with his family members. Murali Mohan admitted that he initially wondered whether the call might be fake. It was only after the official Padma Awards announcement and the flood of congratulatory messages that he realized the news was genuine.