Hema Malini & Esha Deol react as Dharmendra gets excluded from Oscars tributes segment: 'They should’ve…'

The Academy Awards' omission of the legendary Indian actor, the late Dharmendra, from the In Memoriam segment has greatly displeased his fans. Social media, commencing Monday morning, has strongly reacted to this oversight during the televised ceremony. Although his name, alongside other Indian greats like the late actor Manoj Kumar, was subsequently added on the website, this action appears belated.

Hema Malini reacts to the same

Hema Malini, Dharmendra's wife, responded to the omission, stating, "Personally Dharam ji never bothered about all this! The love from his fans was above everything. I thank everyone for their concern, and for remembering him with such affection even now. The love and respect people have for Dharmendra means a great deal to us.”

While acknowledging his fans' concerns, she told HT, “Oscars should have mentioned Dharam ji's name certainly.” Given his five-decade career and status as one of Indian cinema's biggest stars, with his final film, Ikkis, released on January 1st, the oversight is notable.

Esha Deol says for Dharmendra life was about love

Esha Deol, daughter of the late actor Dharmendra also reacted to the same in an interview with Subhash K Jha for Variety India, Esha shared that she doesn't believe "it would ever make a difference to papa."

She said, "I don’t think it would ever make a difference to Papa. His heart has always been far too big to worry about such things. For him, life was never about recognition or status—it was about love, kindness, and the place he held in people’s hearts."

About Oscars & it’s tribute segment

This year's Oscars' tribute segment was extended by 15 minutes, featuring special remembrances for Hollywood icons such as Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, and Robert Redford. Despite the increased duration, Dharmendra's name was notably absent from the broadcast.

However, the late actor was included in the official online list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), alongside five other Indian film personalities. These included actors Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.

This incident marks another instance where a prominent figure from Indian cinema was overlooked at the Oscars. In 2021, the late actor Dilip Kumar was also not mentioned, although the In Memoriam segment has occasionally included Indian film personalities in prior ceremonies.