Hema Malini reacts to Dharmendra’s posthumous Padma Vibhushan: “Had it come earlier, he would have been extremely happy”

The award was included in the official Padma Awards list for 2026, unveiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day.

• Dharmendra posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan for Indian cinema contributions
• Hema Malini expressed pride and regret that the honour did not come sooner
• Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian award

Did our AI summary help?

Veteran actress and politician Hema Malini on Monday expressed immense happiness and pride as the Padma Vibhushan was posthumously awarded to her late husband and legendary actor Dharmendra. She also expressed regret that this recognition of his monumental contribution to Indian cinema did not come sooner.

Speaking to ANI, Malini said the honour was a moment of joy not just for their family but for the entire country. "It makes us very happy, the entire country is happy. Had it come earlier, Dharmendra ji would have been extremely happy, and seeing him, his fans would have been even happier," she remarked in reaction to the announcement made on the eve of Republic Day.

The Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, will be conferred on Dharmendra for his exceptional and distinguished service to the arts. The award was included in the official Padma Awards list for 2026, unveiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Asian News International (@ani_trending)

In a separate statement, Hema Malini described the recognition as long overdue. "So so proud that the government has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award," she said, expressing gratitude to the Centre for acknowledging his enduring legacy.

Dharmendra, fondly remembered as Hindi cinema’s original ‘He-Man’, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, leaving behind a towering legacy that spanned over six decades. Known for his charismatic screen presence, gentle smile, and remarkable versatility, he was widely regarded as one of the most iconic actors in Indian cinema.

His illustrious body of work includes classics such as Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, and Anupama.

Also read: Hema Malini on why two separate prayer meets were held for Dharmendra, ‘Yeh humare ghar ka personal mamla hai

In December of last year, Hema Malini organised a prayer meet in the national capital to honour Dharmendra. The gathering saw the presence of several prominent political leaders and members of the film fraternity. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda, and several ministers and parliamentarians attended the event, offering condolences to Malini and her daughters, Esha and Ahana.

The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. They are conferred by the President of India during annual ceremonial functions, usually in March or April.