Veteran actress and politician Hema Malini has expressed disappointment after Bollywood legend Dharmendra was reportedly omitted from the “In Memoriam” segment at the Academy Awards.
Calling the omission a “shame,” she said the iconic star deserved global recognition for his contribution to cinema.
Speaking about the issue, Hema Malini said it was unfortunate that the Oscars overlooked an actor who remains beloved across generations and regions.
“It is a shame, of course. A shame for them to have overlooked an actor who means so many things to so many people in many parts of the world. Dharamji was known and recognized worldwide,” she said.
However, she added that Dharmendra himself would likely not be bothered by the snub. According to her, the veteran star never focused much on awards during his career.
“He never got too many awards during his lifetime. Why should he care about the Oscars? we were always content with the love we received in our country,” she said.
Hema Malini also pointed out that recognition has often eluded many accomplished performers in Indian cinema. She recalled that even some of her own acclaimed performances in films like Lal Patthar and Meera did not receive major awards.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra’s son, actor Sunny Deol, had earlier spoken about how awards have rarely come the family’s way despite their contributions to the film industry. In a past conversation, he said that several of his popular films including Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Ghatak, and Border did not receive the recognition he felt they deserved.
Sunny added that his father, widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s finest actors, was also overlooked for awards despite powerful performances in films like Satyakam, Anupama, and Chupke Chupke.
The conversation has once again sparked debate among fans about how legendary actors from Indian cinema are recognised internationally, particularly at global platforms like the Oscars.