In a poignant moment at the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony, Ahana Deol was visibly moved to tears as her mother, Hema Malini, accepted the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award on behalf of the late legendary actor Dharmendra. The honour, one of India’s highest civilian recognitions, was conferred posthumously in acknowledgment of Dharmendra’s remarkable and enduring contributions to Indian cinema.
The emotional scene unfolded at Rashtrapati Bhavan as Hema Malini stepped forward to receive the award. Videos and images from the event quickly circulated online, showing Ahana Deol struggling to contain her emotions while witnessing her mother’s graceful acceptance of the honour for her late father. The family’s heartfelt reaction resonated widely with fans, many of whom noted that the recognition, though belated, was long overdue for the veteran star known as the “He-Man” of Hindi cinema.
In an exclusive conversation, Hema Malini expressed the family’s mixed emotions. She described the occasion as both joyful and deeply saddening, stating that while the entire family felt thrilled by the honour, they had hoped Dharmendra could have received it in person. “The entire family is very thrilled and so happy. Of course, we wished he had received this sooner when he was still present to collect it, but nonetheless, we are happy. He deserved it,” she told.
Hema Malini further highlighted the widespread admiration Dharmendra continues to command. “The fans, the industry everyone has only nice things to say about him now and it fills our hearts with so much pride. Everyone wanted this for him,” she added.
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This year’s Padma Vibhushan awards were presented to five distinguished individuals. Along with Dharmendra, the recipients included former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas for Public Affairs, classical violinist N Rajam for Art, educationist P Narayanan for Literature and Education, and veteran political leader V S Achuthanandhan, who was also honoured posthumously.
The entertainment sector received notable recognition at the Padma Awards 2026. Actor Mammootty and singer Alka Yagnik were conferred the Padma Bhushan for their contributions to cinema and music. The Padma Shri was awarded to several prominent figures from the film industry, including Prosenjit Chatterjee, R Madhavan, the late actor Satish Shah, and Anil Rastogi.
The ceremony celebrated excellence across diverse fields, paying tribute to individuals whose work has profoundly shaped India’s cultural and artistic heritage. For the Deol family, the event served as a touching remembrance of Dharmendra’s legendary legacy.