Hema Malini and Ahana Deol in Tears at Delhi Ceremony (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: Veteran actor Hema Malini attended the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony in New Delhi to receive the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her late husband, legendary actor Dharmendra. The honour was conferred posthumously in recognition of his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema and cultural legacy.
Hema Malini arrived at the event wearing a light pink saree with delicate detailing and was accompanied by her daughter Ahana Deol. As Dharmendra’s name was announced during the ceremony, Hema Malini walked towards the stage with folded hands and visible emotion. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to her during the formal event.
The emotional atmosphere deeply affected both Hema Malini and Ahana Deol. Eyewitnesses at the ceremony noted that the actress had tears in her eyes while accepting the honour. Ahana was also seen becoming emotional as the family remembered Dharmendra on the significant occasion.
Ahead of the ceremony, Hema Malini had shared that the recognition was a proud yet emotional moment for the entire family. She mentioned that daughters Esha and Ahana, along with Sunny and Bobby Deol, were all aware of the honour and deeply moved by the recognition given to Dharmendra after his passing.
The Padma Vibhushan is India’s second-highest civilian award after the Bharat Ratna. It is presented for exceptional service in various fields including cinema, arts, literature, science and public affairs. Dharmendra’s inclusion among this year’s recipients was widely celebrated within the film industry.
Dharmendra passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89, leaving behind an extraordinary cinematic legacy spanning several decades. Known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, he remained one of Indian cinema’s most admired stars. Following his death, tributes poured in from across the country, reflecting his immense influence on generations of film lovers and fellow actors alike throughout his remarkable career.
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dharmendra (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 2 | K T Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 3 | N Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | P Narayanan | Literature and Education | Kerala |
| 5 | V S Achuthanandan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alka Yagnik | Art | Maharashtra |
| 2 | Bhagat Singh Koshyari | Public Affairs | Uttarakhand |
| 3 | K. R. Palaniswamy | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 4 | Mammootty | Art | Kerala |
| 5 | Nori Dattatreyudu | Medicine | United States of America |
| 6 | Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 7 | S. K. M. Maeilanandhan | Social Work | Tamil Nadu |
| 8 | Shatavadhani R. Ganesh | Art | Karnataka |
| 9 | Shibu Soren (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Jharkhand |
| 10 | Uday Kotak | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra |
| 11 | V. K. Malhotra (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Delhi |
| 12 | Vellappally Natesan | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 13 | Vijay Amritraj | Sports | United States of America |
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A E Muthunayagam | Science and Engineering | Kerala |
| 2 | Anil Kumar Rastogi | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 3 | Anke Gowda M. | Social Work | Karnataka |
| 4 | Armida Fernandez | Medicine | Maharashtra |
| 5 | Arvind Vaidya | Art | Gujarat |
| 6 | Ashok Khade | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| 7 | Ashok Kumar Singh | Science and Engineering | Uttar Pradesh |
| 8 | Asok Kumar Haldar | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 9 | Baldev Singh | Sports | Punjab |
| 10 | Bhagwandas Raikwar | Sports | Madhya Pradesh |
| 11 | Bharat Singh Bharti | Art | Bihar |
| 12 | Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda | Art | Maharashtra |
| 13 | Bishwa Bandhu (Posthumous) | Art | Bihar |
| 14 | Brij Lal Bhat | Social Work | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 15 | Buddha Rashmi Mani | Others – Archaeology | Uttar Pradesh |
| 16 | Budhri Tati | Social Work | Chhattisgarh |
| 17 | Chandramouli Gaddamanugu | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
| 18 | Charan Hembram | Literature and Education | Odisha |
| 19 | Chiranji Lal Yadav | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 20 | Deepika Reddy | Art | Telangana |
| 21 | Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya | Art | Gujarat |
| 22 | Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad | Art | Andhra Pradesh |
| 23 | Gafruddin Mewati Jogi | Art | Rajasthan |
| 24 | Gambir Singh Yonzone | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 25 | Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous) | Art | Andhra Pradesh |
| 26 | Gayatri Balasubramanian & Ranjani Balasubramanian (Duo) | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 27 | Gopal Ji Trivedi | Science and Engineering | Bihar |
| 28 | Guduru Venkat Rao | Medicine | Telangana |
| 29 | H V Hande | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 30 | Hally War | Social Work | Meghalaya |
| 31 | Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (Posthumous) | Art | West Bengal |
| 32 | Haricharan Saikia | Art | Assam |
| 33 | Harmanpreet Kaur | Sports | Punjab |
| 34 | Inderjit Singh Sidhu | Social Work | Chandigarh |
| 35 | Janardan Bapurao Bothe | Social Work | Maharashtra |
| 36 | Jogesh Deuri | Others – Agriculture | Assam |
| 37 | Juzer Vasi | Science and Engineering | Maharashtra |
| 38 | Jyotish Debnath | Art | West Bengal |
| 39 | K Pajanivel | Sports | Puducherry |
| 40 | K Ramasamy | Science and Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 41 | K Vijay Kumar | Civil Service | Tamil Nadu |
| 42 | Kabindra Purkayastha (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Assam |
| 43 | Kailash Chandra Pant | Literature and Education | Madhya Pradesh |
| 44 | Kalamandalam Vimala Menon | Art | Kerala |
| 45 | Kewal Krishan Thakral | Medicine | Uttar Pradesh |
| 46 | Khem Raj Sundriyal | Art | Haryana |
| 47 | Kollakal Devaki Amma | Social Work | Kerala |
| 48 | Krishnamurty Balasubramanian | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
| 49 | Kumar Bose | Art | West Bengal |
| 50 | Kumarasamy Thangaraj | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
