📌 Key Points
- Dharmendra was not mentioned in the Oscars’ In Memoriam segment.
- Esha Deol says her father wouldn’t be bothered by the omission.
- Dharmendra is included in the Academy’s official online list.
- Past Oscars have omitted and included Indian film personalities.
Esha Deol has responded to her father, Dharmendra, being excluded from the Oscars’ ‘In Memoriam’ segment. While he wasn’t part of the televised tribute, the legendary actor is listed in the Academy’s online memorial, alongside other Indian film figures.
Dharmendra Missed in Oscars Tribute
Esha Deol , the daughter of late actor Dharmendra, has reacted after he wasn’t mentioned in the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards. Speaking with Variety India, Esha said she doesn’t think “it would ever make a difference to papa.” Dharmendra died in November 2025 in Mumbai.
The late actor was, however, included in the official online list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) alongside five other Indian film personalities — actors Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.
Esha Deol’s Reaction to the Omission
This is not the first time a celebrity from Indian cinema has been brushed aside at the Oscars. In 2021, the late actor Dilip Kumar wasn’t mentioned in the segment. In previous ceremonies, the In Memoriam segment has occasionally featured Indian film personalities.
Academy’s Online Memorial Inclusion
At the 90th Academy Awards in 2018, cinema icons Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi were honoured in the montage, with the two stars receiving a musical tribute by Eddie Vedder. More recently, at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, actors Irrfan Khan and Oscar-winning costume designer Bhanu Athaiya were also remembered in the segment.
While Dharmendra’s absence from the televised ‘In Memoriam’ segment raised eyebrows, his daughter Esha Deol believes it wouldn’t affect him. His legacy remains, acknowledged online by the Academy amidst ongoing debates about inclusivity in such tributes.
