Hema Malini SLAMS Oscars For Snubbing Dharmendra’s Name In Memoriam Ceremony; Calls It A Shame

The late actor Dharmendra was not featured in the In Memoriam segment during the 98th Academy Awards. His wife and veteran actress Hema Malini did not remain silent on the matter. She recently shared her reaction to the omission, expressing disappointment over the decision. Scroll down to read what she said.

Hema Malini Responds To Dharmendra’s Name Being Left Out Of The ‘In Memorium’ Segment

During the 79th edition of the British Academy Film Awards last month, the late Indian cinema icon Dharmendra was honoured in the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment. The legendary actor passed away in November last year at the age of 89 after battling age-related health issues. Speaking about the tribute earlier, his wife and veteran actress Hema Malini had remarked that Dharmendra’s legacy and popularity extended far beyond national boundaries.

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A post shared by Dream Girl Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhemamalini)

However, many fans across India expressed disappointment when the actor was not mentioned during the televised In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards. While Dharmendra’s name, along with that of Manoj Kumar, appeared in the more comprehensive list published on the Oscars’ official website, viewers were upset that he was not included in the live broadcast. Hema Malini has now responded to the reactions surrounding the omission.

In an interaction with Bollywood Hungama, Hema Malini expressed her disappointment over the omission. The actress said, “It is a shame, of course. A shame for them to have overlooked an actor who means so many things to so many people in many parts of the world. Dharamji was known and recognised everywhere.” However, Hema went on to add that Dharmendra would not have cared about the Oscars’ snub. She reasoned, “He never got too many awards during his lifetime. Why should he care about the Oscars? Both of us, we 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.”

Fans Criticise Oscars For Not Listing Late Actor Dharmendra

Some users openly criticised the ceremony, with one fan posting that it was disappointing to see a Bollywood icon like Dharmendra overlooked despite his long and influential career. The user commented, “#Oscars or just a Hollywood PR show? Disgraceful to snub Bollywood legend Dharmendra in the ‘In Memoriam’ tribute after 60 years of cinema. Stop using Priyanka for clout if you can’t respect our icons. Not truly international! #Oscars2026 #Oscars2026 @TheAcademy.” Whereas, another user wrote, “The Oscars showed a list of people who passed away last year, yet didn’t mention Dharmendra—a legendary Indian actor who gave his entire life to cinema. Why so much hype when our icons get no recognition? After all, it’s mainly a Hollywood show, not truly international.#Oscars.”

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A post shared by Dream Girl Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhemamalini)

During the live broadcast of the 98th Academy Awards, several celebrated figures from global cinema were honoured in the In Memoriam segment. Among those remembered were Diane Keaton, known for Annie Hall and Catherine O’Hara from Schitt’s Creek. Additionally, veteran American actor-filmmaker Robert Redford, German actor Udo Kier and filmmaker Rob Reiner were also honoured. Robert Duvall from The Godfather and Val Kilmer, best known for Top Gun, also had their names on the list.

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