It was a profoundly bittersweet day for the Deol family at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, May 25, 2026. During the Civil Investiture Ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu posthumously conferred the Padma Vibhushan—India’s second-highest civilian honor—upon the legendary “He-Man” of Indian cinema, Dharmendra.
Accepting the prestigious honor on his behalf was his wife, veteran actress and MP Hema Malini. The towering icon of Indian cinema passed away a few months prior, on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, leaving behind a monumental legacy that spans more than six decades and over 300 films.
Esha Deol’s Heartfelt Tribute
Though his eldest daughter Esha Deol could not travel to New Delhi for the ceremony, she watched from afar and penned a deeply moving tribute on Instagram, sharing pictures of her mother gracefully receiving the honor in a pink saree.
Esha vividly imagined how her father—who was globally celebrated for his striking good looks and charismatic charm—would have carried himself at the event:
“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.”
She went on to note the deep bond shared by his six children (Sunny, Bobby, Vijeta, Ajeeta, Esha, and Ahana), writing:
“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.”
A Long-Overdue Honor
The ceremony saw raw emotion from within the Ganatantra Mandap as the youngest daughter, Ahana Deol, broke down in tears and wept silently while clapping as her father’s name was echoed through the hall.
Speaking to the media after the event, Hema Malini expressed deep gratitude but mirrored the bittersweet sentiment felt by millions of the actor’s fans across the globe:
-
Long Overdue: Hema Malini noted that while the family is ecstatic, the recognition felt delayed. “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.
-
A Living Institution: She further emphasized that Dharmendra wasn’t just a star but an institution who reached the masses with absolute simplicity, dignity, and deep-rooted cultural values.
The historic day honored several stalwarts of the arts, with Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty and playback singer Alka Yagnik receiving the Padma Bhushan in person, while the late Satish Shah was posthumously honored with the Padma Shri.
