Kamal Ghorui
A heartwarming moment from the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026 is winning the internet. Nandamuri Balakrishna was seen touching the feet of his on-screen mother Hema Malini on the red carpet, and the video is now going viral across social media. A video from the event shows Balakrishna, who was present to receive an award, bumping into his on-screen mother Hema Malini on the red carpet. The actor, all smiles, immediately bent down to touch her feet and seek her blessings. The veteran actress responded warmly—shaking his hand and posing for pictures with him before he moved on to greet others at the venue.
Lifetime Achievement honours for cinema stalwarts
At the IFFD, Balakrishna, Sharmila Tagore and the late Dharmendra were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their immense contribution to Indian cinema.The star-studded evening saw the presence of several prominent names, including Arjun Kapoor, Nimrat Kaur, Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Lauren Gottlieb, Kangana Ranaut, Vivek Oberoi, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Arvind Swamy, among others.
Bhagavanth Kesari screened at the festival
It may be recalled that Balakrishna’s Bhagavanth Kesari, directed by Anil Ravipudi, had won the Best Telugu Film award at the 71st National Film Awards. The film was specially screened at the festival, with Balakrishna, Ravipudi, and producer Sahu Garapati in attendance for the screening.
Padma Bhushan honour in 2025
In 2025, the Government of India conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan—the country’s third-highest civilian honour—on Balakrishna, recognising his immense contribution to arts and cinema.
