---
title: "Odissi exponent Varadkar wins Sangeet Natak Akademi award"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/odissi-exponent-varadkar-award-p2bol
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Society
published: 2026-08-15T00:12:26.056Z
modified: 2026-08-15T00:32:25.840Z
language: en-IN
---

# Odissi exponent Varadkar wins Sangeet Natak Akademi award

Shubhada Varadkar, an Odissi dancer based in Mumbai, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award at Vigyan Bhavan, presented by President Droupadi Murmu. She is the first cousin of Ireland’s former prime minister Leo Varadkar and the grand-niece of Savitri Bai Khanolkar, who designed the Param Vir Chak

## Key takeaways

- Shubhada Varadkar was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Odissi at Vigyan Bhavan.
- The ceremony was conducted by President Droupadi Murmu on August 15, 2026.
- Varadkar is the first cousin of Leo Varadkar, former Prime Minister of Ireland.
- She is also the grand-niece of Savitri Bai Khanolkar, designer of the Param Vir Chakra.
- Her background includes training under Kelucharan Mohapatra and a professorship at RR Ruia College in Mumbai.

## What Happened

Shubhada Varadkar, an Odissi exponent, was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Odissi. The ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhavan and was led by President Droupadi Murmu. The report notes her age as 65 and identifies her as Mumbai-based.

## Why It Matters

The recognition adds a notable milestone to Varadkar’s career in classical dance and highlights Odissi within India’s national arts honors. It also underscores a lineage of public service and achievement in Varadkar’s family, linking to political and medical histories discussed in the profile.

## Background

The profile sketches Varadkar’s upbringing in a family with ties to academia, law, freedom movements, and medical practice. Her maternal influence allowed for exploration of dance, though there was no prior professional legacy in the family. She pursued Bharatanatyam initially, later moved toward Odissi after a workshop with Kelucharan Mohapatra, and trained at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai and in Bhubaneswar at Mohapatra’s gurukul. She also studied economics and served as a professor at RR Ruia College in Mumbai. Varadkar is described as the grand-niece of Savitri Bai Khanolkar, the designer of the Param Vir Chakra, and the first cousin of Leo Varadkar, the former prime minister of Ireland.

Her career is marked by learning from Mohapatra in the gurukul system, with references to Choreography inspired by his work. The narrative also notes her experiences as a two-time cancer survivor, with public recounting of battles in 2006 and 2025 and subsequent literary work about those experiences.

## Key Facts

- Name: Shubhada Varadkar
- Award: Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Odissi
- Event location: Vigyan Bhavan
- Presenter: President Droupadi Murmu
- Date of reporting: August 15, 2026
- Age: 65
- Residence: Mumbai
- Family links: first cousin of Leo Varadkar (former Prime Minister of Ireland)
- Other lineage: grand-niece of Savitri Bai Khanolkar (Param Vir Chakra designer)
- Training: studied Odissi at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai; mentored by Kelucharan Mohapatra; studied in Bhubaneswar
- Professional role: former professor at RR Ruia College, Mumbai
- Health: two-time cancer survivor (2006 and 2025)

## What Happens Next

The report does not specify any immediate next steps beyond the award acknowledgment and continued work in Odissi. It notes Varadkar’s ongoing projects and writings, including a forthcoming book on Odramagadhi, the Odissi precursor.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/odissi-exponent-varadkar-award-p2bol
Reported from: Multiple Sources