Veteran actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Hema Malini turned emotional at the Padma Awards ceremony in New Delhi on 25 May 2025, as she accepted the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — on behalf of her late husband and Bollywood legend Dharmendra. The moment, she wrote, felt as though Dharmendra himself was present beside her.

A Moment of Overwhelming Emotion

Sharing photographs and an emotional note from the ceremony, Hema Malini described an almost spiritual experience as she walked to the dais. “An euphoric moment! A moment when I actually felt my husband Dharam ji’s warm presence, holding my hand and guiding me to the dais where his Padma Vibhushan award awaited him,” she wrote.

She added that as President Droupadi Murmu personally handed out the awards, memories of her decades-long bond with Dharmendra — first as a co-star in numerous hit films and later as his life partner — came flooding back. “Tears welled up as these thoughts were stirred within me,” she said.

Tribute to Dharmendra's Character

In her note, Hema Malini painted a portrait of Dharmendra that went beyond his screen persona. “He had been a loving and caring husband, an affectionate father and a grand father, well meaning friend, true philosopher, trusted guide. Dharam ji exemplified all these noble qualities and much more. He was a generous, giving, good human being recognised and loved by all who knew him,” she wrote.

The tribute underscored the rare duality of Dharmendra’s legacy — a mass entertainer whose off-screen warmth was, by all accounts, as defining as his on-screen charisma.

Accepting the Award on Behalf of the Family

Hema Malini was explicit that the honour was not hers alone to hold. “I accepted the award with all humility on behalf of our entire family, millions of his fans and well-wishers,” she wrote, signing off with gratitude: “I thank the Almighty for having given me a wonderful soul mate, memories of whom I will cherish till the end of my life.”

She was accompanied at the ceremony by her younger daughter Ahana Deol, who was visibly emotional and was seen tearing up as her mother received the award.

The Ceremony and Hema Malini's Appearance

Hema Malini arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony in a soft pink saree paired with a diamond choker, drawing widespread attention for her graceful composure amid an evidently deeply personal moment. She also shared several photographs from the event on social media.

The Padma Vibhushan, awarded posthumously to Dharmendra, recognises a career spanning over six decades and more than 300 films, making him one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring icons. The recognition places him among the most decorated figures in Indian entertainment history.

What This Recognition Means

Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan comes after years of anticipation from the film fraternity and fans who felt his contribution to Indian cinema had long merited the nation’s highest civilian honours. The posthumous conferral, accepted by his wife of several decades, adds a layer of poignancy to an already storied legacy. How the family chooses to memorialise the honour going forward will be closely watched by his vast fanbase across generations.