Tearful Hema Malini Accepts Dharmendra’s Posthumous Padma Vibhushan at Emotional Ceremony
Hema Malini received Dharmendra’s posthumous Padma Vibhushan at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25, as daughter Ahana broke down at the deeply emotional ceremony.
The Moment That Stopped the Room
There are award ceremonies, and then there are moments inside them that nobody forgets. Monday’s Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan had one of those moments — when Hema Malini walked up to receive the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her late husband Dharmendra, and their daughter Ahana Deol’s eyes filled with tears.
The auditorium went quiet in a particular way. It was not just a public honour being given. It was a family receiving something their father and husband would never hold himself.
Table of Contents
What Are the Padma Awards 2026 and Who Was Honoured
Dharmendra’s Posthumous Padma Vibhushan — What It Means
Hema Malini and Ahana Deol at the Ceremony
Other Notable Awardees in Arts and Culture
Complete List of Arts Category Padma Awardees 2026
What Comes Next in the Award Cycle
What Are the Padma Awards 2026
The Government of India announced 131 Padma Awards on January 25, 2026. The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25 was the first phase of the formal presentation, with 66 recipients honoured on the day.
President Droupadi Murmu personally presented each award. The ceremony opened with the national anthem before the proceedings began.
The Padma Awards are given in three categories — Padma Vibhushan (the second highest civilian honour), Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Recipients come from fields across public life: arts, literature, science, sport, medicine, and public affairs.
Dharmendra’s Posthumous Padma Vibhushan
Dharmendra — full name Dharmendra Singh Deol — was one of Hindi cinema’s defining figures across several decades. Known for his work in films ranging from action to drama, he remained active in the industry well into his later years. He passed away before this year’s Padma Awards cycle concluded.
The posthumous Padma Vibhushan for Dharmendra is a recognition of a career that spanned more than six decades and left a deep mark on Indian cinema. It is the country’s second highest civilian honour.
Hema Malini, herself a celebrated actress and Member of Parliament, received the award on his behalf. She was visibly emotional through the moment. Ahana Deol, the couple’s daughter, stood nearby and was seen wiping her eyes as the award was presented.
No statement was issued publicly from the family at the venue, but the images and videos from the moment circulated widely within hours.
Hema Malini and Ahana Deol at the Padma Ceremony
Hema Malini’s presence at the ceremony carried weight beyond the formality of accepting an award. She and Dharmendra were one of Bollywood’s most prominent couples, and the moment of her receiving his posthumous honour — in full public view, at the country’s most prestigious civilian ceremony — was one that needed no commentary to land.
Ahana Deol, who has largely stayed away from the film industry compared to her sister Esha, was present alongside her mother. Her visible emotion was noted by many watching the ceremony both in the hall and online.
Other Notable Awardees in Arts and Culture
The ceremony recognised several other significant figures from the arts.
Renowned violinist Dr. N. Rajam received the Padma Vibhushan — the same tier as Dharmendra’s award. Dr. Rajam is considered one of India’s most accomplished classical musicians and has spent decades teaching and performing at the highest levels.
Advertising legend Piyush Pandey, who shaped the visual and narrative identity of Indian advertising over several decades, was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously. His wife Neeta Joshi received the award on his behalf.
Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, a dominant figure in Bengali cinema for over four decades, received the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema and the arts. President Murmu presented the award to him at the ceremony.
Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, a Bhapang instrument player, received the Padma Shri in the arts category. The Bhapang is a traditional folk instrument from Rajasthan, and Jogi has been one of its most recognised practitioners.
Gujarat-based folk musician Mir Haji Kasam, a dhol player, was also honoured with the Padma Shri. Raghubirji Khedkar received the Padma Shri for contributions to theatre and the arts.
Complete List of Arts Category Padma Awardees 2026
Padma Vibhushan
Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous)
Dr. N. Rajam
Padma Bhushan
Dr. R. Ganesh
Piyush Pandey (Posthumous)
Padma Shri
Biswa Bandhu (Posthumous)
Bharat Singh Bharti
Taga Ram Bheel
Kumar Bose
Prosenjit Chatterjee
Gafruddin Mewati Jogi
Mir Haji Kasam
Raghubirji Khedkar
R. Krishnankuttan (Posthumous)
Professor Dr. Lars Christian Koch
Tripti Mukherjee
Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay (Posthumous)
Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous)
Deepika Reddy
Haricharan Saikia
Yanamam Jatra Singh (Posthumous)
N. Swaminathan
Arvind Vaidya
What Comes Next
The May 25 ceremony was the first phase of the 2026 Padma Award presentations, covering 66 of the 131 announced recipients. A second phase is expected to follow, covering the remaining awardees across other fields including science, medicine, social work, and public affairs.
The full list was announced on January 25, 2026 — Republic Day eve, which is the traditional date for Padma Award announcements.
Conclusion
Monday’s ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was, by any measure, a significant occasion. But Dharmendra’s posthumous Padma Vibhushan gave it a particular gravity. A career of more than sixty years, a family receiving an honour in his absence, and a daughter’s tears in a room full of people — that is the image most people will carry from May 25, 2026.
The Padma Awards exist to acknowledge contributions that outlast the moment. In Dharmendra’s case, the moment of acknowledgment itself became something worth remembering.
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