📌 Key Points
- Hema Malini accepted the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for Dharmendra.
- She expressed deep emotion, stating Dharmendra truly deserved the prestigious award.
- Daughter Ahana Deol was also present, visibly moved during the ceremony.
- Malini’s note highlighted Dharmendra’s qualities as a husband, father, and friend.
Veteran actress Hema Malini recently shared her profound emotions after accepting the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her late husband, Dharmendra. She described the moment as deeply moving, emphasizing his immense contributions to Indian cinema and his deserving nature for the prestigious honour.
Hema Malini’s Heartfelt Acceptance Speech
On Monday, late legendary star Dharmendra was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, for his exceptional contributions to Indian cinema spanning over six decades. Actor and politician Hema Malini accepted the honour from President Droupadi Murmu. Recently, Hema spoke about the emotional moment when she accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.
The video from the Padma Awards ceremony showed Hema Malini getting emotional as she received the honour on Dharmendra’s behalf. The couple’s daughter Ahana Deol was also present at the ceremony, seated in the audience, and she was seen breaking down while applauding as her mother accepted the award.
Dharmendra’s Legacy: A Deserving Honour
She further added, “Yesterday, at the serene Padma Awards function, as Her Excellency the President personally handed out the prestigious awards to the deserving achievers, I sat representing Dharam ji and felt immense pride rise within me. Memories of the years spent with him, first as a co-star in so many hit movies and later as his life partner, came flooding back. Tears welled up as these thoughts stirred within me. He had been a loving and caring husband, an affectionate father and grandfather, a well-meaning friend, a true philosopher and a trusted guide. Dharam ji exemplified all these noble qualities and much more. He was a generous and kind human being, recognised and loved by everyone who knew him.”
She concluded the heartfelt note by writing, “I accepted the award with all humility on behalf of our entire family, millions of his fans and well-wishers. I thank the Almighty for giving me such a wonderful soulmate, whose memories I will cherish till the end of my life. These are my genuine outpourings, overwhelmed by the moment of receiving the nation’s second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan, on behalf of Dharam ji.”
Family’s Emotional Presence at the Ceremony
Apart from Dharmendra, late actor Satish Shah was also conferred with a Padma honour posthumously.
The ceremony underscored Dharmendra’s enduring legacy and the deep respect he commanded. Hema Malini’s heartfelt words beautifully captured the sentiment of a nation honoring one of its most beloved cinematic icons, a truly emotional and fitting tribute.
