Actor Kamal Haasan received the Paidi Jairaj Film Award at the ceremony for the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2026. He received the award from actor Nagarjuna, with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also present at the event.

The Paidi Jairaj Film Award is presented to film personalities (other than artists) for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. The award is named after the actor, director, and producer who began his career in 1929, and starred in films like Sholay (1975).

Previously, Mani Ratnam won the award in 2025. Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan have collaborated on Nayakan (1987) and Thug Life (2025).

Among the 2026 awards, Singeetam Srinivas Rao, another frequent collaborator of Kamal Haasan, won the BN Reddy award. Meanwhile, actor Chiranjeevi is the recipient of the NTR National Film Award. Producer Ashwini Dutt receives the Nagireddy–Chakrapani Film Award.