New Delhi [India], May 28: Renowned Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee took to social media to express his heartfelt joy and pride after his theatre mentor, Barry John, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award.
The celebrated theatre artist received the honour from President Droupadi Murmu during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
Sharing a heartfelt post on Instagram, Bajpayee wrote:
“My Guru, Barry John, my guiding light! He was the first one to see the potential in me, to trust me with responsibilities that shaped my journey. His unwavering faith in me has been the cornerstone of who I am today. It’s a moment of immense pride and gratitude to see him being honored with the Padma Shri, a recognition truly deserved!”
The prestigious event was attended by key dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, and Union Ministers Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Pralhad Joshi, Jitendra Singh, and G Kishan Reddy among others.
The Padma Awards—one of India’s highest civilian honours—are awarded annually in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognise exceptional achievements across various disciplines, including art, literature, public affairs, science, medicine, education, and civil service.
For 2025, the President approved 139 Padma Awards, including 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honorees. The list includes 23 women, 10 international awardees (Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI), and 13 posthumous recipients.
Barry John, who has been a seminal force in Indian theatre and acting education, is credited with mentoring numerous leading actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, and Freida Pinto. His contribution to the performing arts continues to inspire generations of artists.