The grand Civil Investiture Ceremony for the Padma Awards 2026, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, witnessed deeply moving scenes as the legendary Bollywood icon Dharmendra was posthumously honored with the Padma Vibhushan, which stands as India’s second-highest civilian award. The late actor, fondly celebrated as Hindi cinema’s original He-Man, passed away in November last year at the age of eighty-nine after an illustrious career spanning more than six decades, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy. To accept the prestigious honor for his exceptional and distinguished service to the arts, his wife, veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini, attended the ceremony dressed in a beautiful light pink embroidered saree. As Dharmendra’s name was officially announced inside the majestic Durbar Hall, Hema Malini greeted the gathering with folded hands and walked toward the podium with visible tears in her eyes, creating an intensely emotional atmosphere that touched everyone in attendance, including top dignitaries like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Watching from the audience, Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s younger daughter, Ahana Deol, completely broke down in tears as she watched her mother accept the massive honor from President Droupadi Murmu. Seated alongside her husband Vaibhav Vohra, Ahana was seen clapping through her tears, completely overcome with emotion while remembering her beloved father and his towering contributions to Indian cinema. Prior to the evening ceremony, Hema Malini had opened up to the media about the bittersweet nature of the event, explaining that the moment brought a unique mix of immense joy and heavy heartbreak for the entire family. She noted that while the recognition is incredibly special and has filled their hearts with pride, they all deeply wished that Dharmendra had received this honor much sooner when he was still present among them to collect it himself. She also shared that her elder daughter Esha Deol desperately wanted to be part of the historic evening but unfortunately could not make it to Delhi, though the entire extended family, including stepsons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, were fully aware of the proceedings and celebrated the massive milestone together from afar.
The posthumous award marks Dharmendra’s second major civilian recognition from the government, following his Padma Bhushan honor back in 2012, cementing his status as one of the most versatile and beloved actors in the history of the country with timeless classics like Sholay and Chupke Chupke to his credit. The prestigious 2026 list approved by the President featured a total of one hundred and thirty-one achievers from various fields, highlighting several other top cinematic icons alongside the late superstar. Among the prominent names honored during the evening were Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty and celebrated playback singer Alka Yagnik, who both received the Padma Bhushan, while popular actors R Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and the late Satish Shah were conferred with the Padma Shri. As the emotional ceremony concluded, the heartfelt tribute paid by the Deol family to their late patriarch emerged as the most touching and widely discussed highlight of the evening, perfectly capturing the deep love, pride, and enduring respect that the entire nation continues to hold for the legendary star.
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