Oscars 2026: Dharmendra Honoured in Official Tribute

The 98th Academy Awards, held in Los Angeles on Sunday night, paid respects to film industry veterans who passed away in the preceding year. While the broadcast In Memoriam segment highlighted several prominent Hollywood personalities, legendary Indian actor Dharmendra was notably omitted from the on-air presentation, though his name appeared on the Academy’s comprehensive official online list.

Dharmendra, who died on November 24, 2025, at his Mumbai residence shortly after being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8. The veteran star, affectionately known as Dharam ji, received the Padma Vibhushan award posthumously this year in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Indian cinema. His wife, Hema Malini, expressed pride in the government’s decision, stating it honoured his immense impact on the film industry.

During the ceremony, the televised In Memoriam segment adopted a fresh format, moving away from the usual video montage in favour of personalised tributes. It featured heartfelt remembrances for figures such as Robert Redford, honoured by longtime collaborator Barbra Streisand, who praised him as a “brilliant, subtle actor” and “intellectual cowboy” before singing lines from their classic film The Way We Were. Actor Billy Crystal paid tribute to director Rob Reiner, recalling their work on When Harry Met Sally. Other stars recognised on air included Robert Duvall, Catherine O’Hara, and Diane Keaton, with Rachel McAdams delivering a nod to her fellow Canadian Keaton.

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Organisers had previewed this segmented approach prior to the event, limiting the broadcast to a select group of names. A fuller In Memoriam roster was subsequently released on the official Oscars website, which extended recognition to global cinema contributors. Among those included were Indian film stalwarts Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, B Saroja Devi, and Kota Srinivasa Rao, their photographs featured alongside international icons to acknowledge their enduring legacies.

The Academy’s decision to include Dharmendra only in the online compilation, rather than the live televised portion, has drawn attention, especially given his stature as one of Bollywood’s most enduring superstars. The 98th Oscars otherwise celebrated the finest achievements in film, with the In Memoriam segment serving as a poignant reminder of the industry’s losses over the past year.