Indian fans were left disappointed when the 98th Academy Awards missed out on mentioning veteran actor Dharmendra in their In Memoriam section. Every year, the memoriam pays tribute to artists who passed away in the previous year. The tribute segment at this year`s Oscars ran for 15 minutes longer than in previous years with special remembrances for Hollywood legends Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton and Robert Redford. Despite the extended runtime, Dharmendra`s name was absent from the broadcast.
Dharmendra not mentioned at Oscars 2026
The “Sholay” star, however, was included in the official online list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) alongside five other Indian film personalities- actors Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.
Earlier in the awards season, Dharmendra received a tribute at the 79th BAFTA Awards held at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2026, where he was the only Indian actor included in the `In Memoriam` montage.
In previous ceremonies, the In Memoriam segment has occasionally featured Indian film personalities. At the 90th Academy Awards in 2018, cinema icons Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi were honoured in the montage, with the two stars receiving a musical tribute by Eddie Vedder.
More recently, at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, actors Irrfan Khan and Oscar-winning costume designer Bhanu Athaiya were also remembered in the segment. Other names also absent from the broadcast included Brigitte Bardot, James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and `Harold and Maude` actor Bud Cort.
“It`s been an unimaginably hard year where we`ve lost a lot of icons and titans of the film industry. So yes, we are going to expand the In Memoriam because it feels so important that we do a tribute that is worthy of the people that we`ve lost this year,” Oscars producer Katy Mullan told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the ceremony.
About Dharmendra
Affectionately known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, Dharmendra’s career spanned over six decades, during which he appeared in more than 250 films across genres — from intense dramas to light-hearted comedies and timeless romances.
Born Dharam Singh Deol in Punjab in 1935, Dharmendra made his debut with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960). He rose to fame with hits such as Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Anupama (1966), and Bandini (1963), establishing himself as a versatile performer. His unforgettable pairing with Hema Malini on and off screen became legendary.
