The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, delivered a night of cinematic triumphs while also honouring cinematic legends in the In Memoriam section. The ceremony paid tribute to several icons of world cinema on Monday morning, but veteran Indian star Dharmendra was absent from the televised segment despite being officially acknowledged by the Academy. His wife, Hema Malini, has now reacted to the snub.
Hema Malini on Dharmendra’s Oscar snub
The legendary Bollywood actor, who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89, was included in the Academy`s official online In Memoriam list released on the day of the ceremony. Meanwhile, the broadcast tribute honoured several well-known names from the global film industry, including Robert Redford, Rob Reiner, Robert Duvall, Catherine O`Hara, and Diane Keaton.
Speaking with Bollywood Hungama, Hema Malini expressed her disappointment, saying, “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 recognized everywhere,” she said. However, she added that he wouldn’t have cared about the snub. “He never got too many awards during his lifetime. Why should he care about the Oscars? Both of us 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,” she said.
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Another iconic Indian actor, Manoj Kumar, who also died last year, was similarly acknowledged by the Academy but omitted from the televised segment.
Dharmendra honoured at BAFTA
Dharmendra remains one of Hindi cinema`s most enduring stars. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and delivered memorable performances in classics such as Sholay, Satyakam, and Chupke Chupke.
Earlier this year, the actor received a prominent international tribute at the BAFTA Awards 2026, where he was honoured during the In Memoriam segment. British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware performed an emotional rendition of The Way We Were, accompanied by a montage celebrating the late actor`s life and cinematic legacy.
About Oscars 2026
Meanwhile, the Oscars ceremony concluded with One Battle After Another winning Best Picture. Michael B. Jordan took home the Best Actor award for Sinners, a genre-blending period drama written and directed by Ryan Coogler.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her performance in Hamnet, while Sentimental Value secured the award for Best International Feature.
