Emotional Hema Malini accepts Dharmendra's posthumous Padma Vibhushan. Video
Hema Malini accepted the posthumous Padma Vibhushan awarded to Dharmendra from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She was visibly emotional while receiving the honour on behalf of her late husband.
Veteran actor-politician Hema Malini stepped forward at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday to accept the Padma Vibhushan awarded posthumously to her late husband and iconic Bollywood actor Dharmendra. The honour was presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the first civil investiture ceremony of 2026, marking a solemn moment for the legendary actor’s family.
Dharmendra, who died in Mumbai on November 24, 2025 at the age of 89, was recognised for his contribution to Indian cinema spanning over six decades. His award, announced earlier this year, was received by Hema Malini as she stood visibly emotional on stage, acknowledging a legacy that shaped generations of film audiences.
The ceremony at the Ganatantra Mandap brought together several distinguished personalities from the fields of cinema, music, and literature. Hema Malini, dressed in a baby pink saree, walked up to receive the honour on behalf of her late husband. In the audience, their daughter Ahana was seen getting emotional as she watched the moment unfold.
Who else was honoured at the ceremony?
Among those recognised in the same investiture round, late actor Satish Shah was named for the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian entertainment. Singer Alka Yagnik was set to receive the Padma Bhushan for her long-standing work in the music industry. The list also included Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anil Kumar Rastogi and Arvind Vaidya, reflecting a wide range of contributions to Indian arts and culture.
What did Hema Malini say earlier?
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Hema Malini had described the moment as deeply emotional. She said the entire family shared in the honour, adding that her daughters Esha and Ahana, along with Dharmendra’s sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, were aware of the significance of the recognition.
Dharmendra, widely known as the “He-Man of Indian cinema”, remains one of Bollywood’s most enduring icons, with a career that defined multiple eras of Hindi films.