Hema Malini, Esha Deol Break Silence On Dharmendra Being Left Out Of Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ Segment
Hema Malini and Esha Deol reacted to Dharmendra’s Oscars 2026 snub. The Academy later added the late Bollywood legend to its online ‘In Memoriam’ tribute after backlash.
Bollywood legend Dharmendra’s absence from the ‘In Memoriam’ segment at the 98th Academy Awards has sparked widespread outrage, with family members and fans expressing disappointment over the shock omission. Among those who reacted strongly was veteran actress and his wife Hema Malini, who did not hold back in calling out the snub. In an interview with Subhash K Jha, Hema Malini reacted to his omission from the Oscars tribute and said, “It is a shame, of course.”
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“A shame for them to have overlooked an actor who means so many things to so many people in many parts of the world. Dharamji was known and recognised everywhere,” Hema Malini said.
She added, “He never got too many awards during his lifetime. Why should he care about the Oscars? Both of us were happy to be loved in our country. But awards always eluded him. Even I didn’t get any award for my best performances in Lal Patthar and Meera.”
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Earlier speaking with HT City, Hema Malini had said, “Personally, Dharam ji never bothered about all this! The love from his fans was above everything. I thank everyone for their concern and for remembering him with such affection even now. The love and respect people have for Dharmendra means a great deal to us. Oscars should have mentioned Dharam ji's name certainly.”
Her statement resonated with fans, many of whom echoed similar sentiments on social media, questioning how such a towering figure in Indian cinema could be overlooked.
Dharmendra’s daughter, Esha Deol, also reacted to the situation but took a more composed and philosophical stance. Speaking with Subhash K Jha for Variety India, Esha said, “I don’t think it would ever make a difference to Papa. His heart has always been far too big to worry about such things. For him, life was never about recognition or status—it was about love, kindness, and the place he held in people’s hearts.”
Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who worked with Dharmendra in films such as ‘Blackmail’ and ‘Dost’, also spoke about it and told Variety, “It is a matter of shame for them if they don’t honour Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and now Dharmendra. Why does it matter to us? They are entrenched in our hearts forever.”
The controversy gained further momentum online, with many pointing out the Academy’s increasing emphasis on global representation in recent years. Fans questioned the inconsistency, especially when several Indian icons had previously been included in the tribute segment.
Amid the backlash, a new development surfaced. While Dharmendra was missing from the ‘In Memoriam’ segment during the live broadcast, it was later revealed that his name had been included in the Academy’s official ‘In Memoriam’ section on their website. The digital tribute also featured veteran actor Manoj Kumar, whose name was similarly absent from the on-air segment.
This partial acknowledgment, however, did little to quell the criticism. For many, the omission from the main ceremony – one of the most-watched moments of the Oscars – remained the core issue. The ‘In Memoriam’ segment is considered a significant mark of respect within the global film community, and Dharmendra’s absence from the televised tribute was seen as a missed opportunity to honour one of Indian cinema’s most enduring stars.
As debates continue to unfold, the incident has once again sparked conversations about representation, recognition, and the place of Indian cinema on the global stage.
