Hema Malini has expressed disappointment over the omission of her late husband, Dharmendra, from the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards.
Dharmendra, a towering figure in Indian cinema, passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89. His absence from the televised tribute has drawn criticism from family members, with Malini describing the omission as “a shame” in an interview with Subhash K Jha. She noted that the actor’s influence extended far beyond India and said he was widely recognised across the world.
Reflecting on his career, Malini added that Dharmendra had never been defined by awards, pointing out that both of them were content with the love they received from audiences. She also observed that major accolades had often eluded him, despite his acclaimed performances.
Their daughter, Esha Deol, also responded to the controversy, suggesting that her father would not have been troubled by the omission, as he was not someone who placed importance on such recognition.
The Academy Awards ceremony this year featured an extended In Memoriam segment, which paid tribute to several international film figures.
While Dharmendra was not included in the televised montage, his name did appear in the official online list released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, alongside other Indian cinema personalities.
Dharmendra had been admitted to hospital in early November 2025 following a decline in his health. Although initial reports of his death were dismissed by family members at the time, he later passed away on November 24, surrounded by his loved ones.
He is survived by his wives, Hema Malini and Prakash Kaur, and his children, including Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
His final screen appearance came in ‘Ikkis’, directed by Sriram Raghavan, which released on January 1.
While the film received praise for Dharmendra’s performance, it did not achieve significant box office success.
