Esha Deol Pens Emotional Note After Hema Malini Receives Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan; Says, “Wished He Was Present Today”

The family of legendary actor Dharmendra experienced an emotional moment at the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony after the veteran star was posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. The prestigious civilian award recognised Dharmendra’s immense contribution to Indian cinema across a career spanning more than six decades and over 300 films. While the honour brought pride to the family, it also left them emotional as they remembered the late actor’s absence during the ceremony.

Esha Deol Pens Emotional Note After Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan

His daughter Esha Deol shared a heartfelt note on Instagram after the event. Posting photographs from the ceremony, including emotional moments of Hema Malini accepting the award on Dharmendra’s behalf, Esha expressed how deeply the family missed him. “A moment of pride. A moment of emotion. How we so deeply wished he was present today, dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue suit, looking as handsome as always, with the excitement of a young boy going to receive this prestigious award,” she wrote.

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A post shared by ESHA DHARMENDRA DEOL (@imeshadeol)

Esha further revealed how emotional the family felt while witnessing the moment unfold at the ceremony. She added, “Yesterday, as my mother represented our family and received the award, and the youngest of us, Ahana, represented all six of us children, she shed tears and clapped in honour of our father — a man whom we love, cherish, miss, and proudly call our papa. Forever in our hearts.”

One of the most talked-about visuals from the ceremony showed Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s younger daughter, Ahana Deol, wiping away tears while applauding during the honour presentation. The emotional moment quickly resonated with fans online.

Earlier, Hema Malini had also opened up about the occasion while speaking to HT City. She shared that the entire family felt proud of the recognition. “It’s an emotional moment for me. Ahana is with me, and Esha wanted to come but could not make it here. The entire family is happy. Sunny, Bobby, everyone is aware of this, and it’s a big moment for all of us,” she said.

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A post shared by ESHA DHARMENDRA DEOL (@imeshadeol)

Dharmendra Receives Padma Vibhushan

Known as Bollywood’s iconic ‘He-Man,’ Dharmendra remains one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated stars. His legacy includes timeless films and performances that continue to inspire generations of actors and movie lovers alike.

Just days before his 90th birthday, Dharmendra had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital after suffering respiratory complications. At the time, rumours about his death spread online, prompting the family to issue clarifications. He later returned home after being discharged and eventually passed away surrounded by his loved ones. His final film, Ikkis, was released posthumously on January 1.

Dharmendra is survived by his wife, Hema Malini; sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol; and daughters Esha and Ahana Deol. And his children from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur, Ajeeta and Vijeta. His contribution to Indian cinema and his larger-than-life legacy continue to remain unforgettable.

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Also Read: ‘Emotional’ Hema Malini Fights Tears As She Receives Padma Vibhushan For Dharmendra; Daughter Ahana Deol Breaks Down Clapping- Watch

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.