Indian cinema lost one of its brightest stars when Dharmendra passed away last November, but the legendary actor received a fitting posthumous tribute on May 25, 2026, as veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini accepted the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award on his behalf. The deeply emotional ceremony touched the entire Deol family, with daughter Esha Deol pouring her heart out in a touching tribute on social media that resonated with fans across the country.
Esha Deol’s sincere tribute to Dharmendra
Sharing glimpses of the ceremony on social media, Esha Deol said, “A proud moment. An emotional moment. How we were so wishing that he would be there today wearing a smart white shirt and blue suit and looking handsome as always with excitement for a little boy who will receive the prestigious award. Yesterday, my mother represented our family and received the award. Like our youngest, Ahana, all six of us children, shed tears and clapped in honor of our father.”
The man we love, whom we cherish, and whom we miss; Which we proudly call our Daddy. Forever in our hearts.”
Hema Malini receiving the award from President Draupadi Murmu
At the official ceremony, Hema Malini received the honor from President Dr. Draupadi Murmu, who represented her late husband before the nation. Dressed in a soft pink sari with elegant diamond jewellery, the actress looked visibly emotional as she held the award close to her heart.Dharmendra’s youngest child, Ahana Deol, was also present at the ceremony, representing all the actor’s six children.
According to Isha, Ahana broke down while applauding their father’s extraordinary legacy and contribution to Hindi cinema.
Remember Dharmendra
Dharmendra is widely recognized as one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars, delivering iconic performances across a career spanning more than six decades. Films like ‘Sholay’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Satyakam’ and ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ cemented his status as a true giant of Indian cinema. His death last November due to lingering age-related health complications left the industry and millions of loyal fans heartbroken.
His latest film was “Ikkis”, which was released on January 1, 2026.
