📌 Key Points
- Hema Malini criticizes the Oscars for omitting Dharmendra from the In Memoriam segment.
- Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025 at 89, was a Bollywood icon.
- The Academy included Dharmendra in its online memorial list, but not the televised broadcast.
- Dharmendra’s final film, ‘Ikkis,’ received praise despite its box office performance.
Hema Malini voiced her disappointment after her husband, the late Dharmendra, was not featured in the Oscars’ In Memoriam segment. Despite his passing in November 2025, and his significant contribution to Indian cinema, the legendary actor was absent from the televised tribute.
Hema Malini’s Disappointment
Bollywood veteran Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89 in November 2025. However, when the legendary actor was not mentioned in the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, his wife, Hema Malini , expressed her disappointment, calling it “a shame”.
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.”
Dharmendra’s Absence at the Oscars
Earlier, his daughter Esha Deol also reacted, saying her father would have been unbothered by the omission, as he was never someone to dwell on such matters.
The tribute segment at this year’s Academy Awards ran 15 minutes longer than in previous years, featuring special remembrances for Hollywood legends Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton and Robert Redford. Despite the extended runtime, Dharmendra’s name was absent from the televised segment. However, he was included in the official online list released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, alongside five other Indian film personalities, actors Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.
Dharmendra’s Final Film Role
On November 24, Dharmendra breathed his last, leaving the film industry in mourning. His last rites were performed in the presence of his family. He is survived by his two wives, Hema Malini and Prakash Kaur, and six children, including Bobby Deol, Sunny Deol, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
Dharmendra’s final film, Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, released in theatres on January 1. His performance was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. However, the film, which also featured Jaideep Ahlawat and Agastya Nanda, failed to perform well at the box office.
While the Academy acknowledged Dharmendra’s contribution online, the omission from the televised segment sparked debate. Despite this, his legacy in Indian cinema remains strong, cemented by a career filled with memorable performances.
