“Tears flowed…”: Hema Malini recalls feeling Dharmendra’s “warm presence” while receiving the Padma Vibhushan on his behalf
On an emotional and heartfelt note, actress and BJP MP Hema Malini spoke about the emotional moment of receiving the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her late husband and film icon Dharmendra.President Draupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award to Hema Malini on Monday at a civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During the ceremony, Ahana Deol was emotional when her father Dharmendra’s name was announced.
She was sitting with her husband Vaibhav Vohra next to her.Sharing her feelings after the prestigious event, she described it as a “joyful moment” and said that Dharam ji’s “warm presence” could be felt beside her as she ascended to receive the honour.“A joyful moment! A moment when I felt the warm presence of my husband Dharam ji, as he held my hand and guided me to the podium where the Padma Vibhushan award was waiting for him,” she wrote.Referring to the ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, she said that she felt very proud when President Draupadi Murmu personally handed over the award.“Yesterday at the quiet Padma Awards ceremony, as His Excellency the President personally handed over the prestigious awards to the deserving achievers, I sat representing Dharam Ji and felt immense pride within me,” she shared.The veteran actress also reflected on the many memories she shared with Dharam ji, both as his co-star and later as his life partner.
“Memories of the years he spent with him, first as a co-star in many successful films and then as his life partner. Tears flowed as these thoughts moved inside me,” she wrote.She described Dharam Ji as a loving husband, caring father and grandfather, and said he was admired by all who knew him.“He was a loving and caring husband, a caring father and grandfather, a well-meaning friend, a true philosopher and a trusted mentor.
Dharam ji embodied all these noble qualities and much more. “He was a generous, giving and good human being, loved and loved by all who knew him,” she added.Expressing her gratitude, she said that she humbly accepted the award on behalf of the entire family and millions of fans and well-wishers of the actor.“I humbly accepted the award on behalf of our entire family, his millions of fans and well-wishers,” she said.At the end of her emotional intervention, she thanked God Almighty for blessing her with a “wonderful soulmate” whose memories she will cherish forever.“I thank Almighty God for giving me a wonderful soul mate, whose memories I will cherish till the end of my life. These are my true outpourings, overwhelmed by the moment of receiving the country’s second highest award, the Padma Vibhushan, on behalf of Dharam ji,” she wrote.Earlier, speaking to ANI, Hema Malini said that the honor was a moment of joy not only for the family but for the entire country.The Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, was conferred on Dharmendra for his exceptional and distinguished service to the arts.In a previous statement, Hema Malini described this recognition as long overdue. “Very proud that the government has recognized Dharam ji’s immense contribution to the film industry by awarding him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the Center for recognizing his legacy.Dharmendra, fondly remembered as the original ‘He-Man’ of Indian cinema, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, leaving behind a towering legacy spanning over six decades. Known for his charismatic screen presence, cute smile and versatility, he was widely regarded as one of the most popular actors in Indian cinema.His repertoire includes classics like ‘Sholay’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke’, ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’ and ‘Anupama’. The ‘Man of Hindi Cinema’ has been ill for some time.On November 10, Dharmendra was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after his health condition deteriorated. Two days later, Dharmendra was discharged from the hospital as the family opted for treatment at home.Sadly, on November 24, 2025, he breathed his last at the age of 89.On the eve of Republic Day, the Home Ministry revealed the official list of Padma awardees for 2026, and on May 25, the awards were handed over to the winners at the ceremony. These prestigious civilian medals honor individuals from diverse fields, including the arts, literature, social service, medicine, education, and public service, for their excellence, dedication, and long-term contribution to society.