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Hema Malini receives honour for Dharmendra (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan witnessed an emotional tribute to veteran actor Dharmendra as his wife and actor-politician Hema Malini received a posthumous civilian honour on his behalf on Sunday.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma awards in the presence of senior government officials, dignitaries and families of awardees. The ceremony honoured personalities from cinema, music, arts, literature and public service for their contributions to the country.
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One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when Hema Malini walked to the stage to accept the posthumous Padma honour awarded to late superstar Dharmendra. The audience applauded as the legendary actor was remembered for his decades-long contribution to Indian cinema.
Visuals from the ceremony also showed Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughter Ahana Deol becoming emotional during the presentation. Dharmendra, regarded as one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic actors, was honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to Indian films.
The Padma Awards ceremony also recognised several prominent names from the entertainment industry. Veteran Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee received the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. Actor R Madhavan, Malayalam superstar Mammootty and singer Alka Yagnik were among the noted personalities honoured during the event.
Advertising veteran Piyush Pandey was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan. His wife Nita Pandey accepted the honour on his behalf. Actor Satish Shah was also among those recognised posthumously at the ceremony.
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The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are presented annually in three categories- Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The awards recognise exceptional contributions across various disciplines, including art, literature, education, social work, medicine, science, sports and public affairs.
This year’s ceremony drew attention not only for the celebrated awardees but also for several emotional family moments that resonated strongly with audiences across the country.
