18 Apr – It was revealed that Amitabh Bachchan will be the third recipient ever of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award. The news was confirmed by the Mangeshkar family, saying that the award is given every year to an individual who has made a path-breaking contribution towards the nation, its people and society. Big B will be accepting the recognition on 24 April, the Memorial Day of the Mangeshkar patriarch and theatre-music veteran Deenanath Mangeshkar. Prior to the actor, the honour was given first to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by Lata Mangeshkar's sister Asha Bhosle in 2023.
Meanwhile, music maestro AR Rahman will receive the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for contribution to Indian music. Known as the most famous Indian playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar died from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in February 2022, at the age of 92.