New Delhi:On Monday, May 25, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the first phase of the Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Padma Vibhushan was posthumously conferred on Dharmendra. Hema Malini received the award from the President on behalf of the Deol family. Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughter Esha Deol has shared a note on the moment of “pride and emotion” for her father.
Dharmendra gets posthumous Padma honour, Esha Deol remembers him
Esha Deol shared photos of her mother Hema Malini receiving Padma Vibhushan award from Dharmendra and wrote a heartfelt note. Sharing the same, she wrote, “A moment of pride A moment of emotion, How we so dearly wished he was present today dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue suit looking as handsome as always with excitement of a young boy going to receive the prestigious award. Yesterday as my mother represented our family and received the award . And the youngest of us Ahana represented all the 6 of us his children & shed tears & clapped in honour of our father A man who we love , who we cherish, who we miss & who we proudly call our papa. Forever in our hearts." The comments areaIn the same vein, she wrote: "A moment of pride A moment of emotion, How we so deeply wished he was present today dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue suit looking as handsome as always with excitement of a young boy going to receive the prestigious award. Yesterday as my mother represented our family and received the award . And the youngest of us Ahana represented all the 6 of us his children & shed tears & clapped in honour of our father A man who we love , who we cherish, who we miss & who we proudly call our papa. Forever in our hearts."
Earlier this year, Hema Malini had called the honour a proud moment.
Earlier this year, in January 2026, Hema Malini had written an emotional note after the government announced Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan honour. Taking to Instagram, she said, “So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji’s immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award.
Dharmendra died at the age of 92 on 24 November 2025.
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