As the 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15 in LA, the live broadcast took place in India in the wee hours of Monday. While Indian fans thoroughly enjoyed it, they were also disappointed that Dharmendra did not get a mention at the Oscars 2026 telecast. Despite what fans thought, the late actor was dissed, the fact is that Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar were in the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the Oscars website. So, even though the actor was not included in the live show, his name was on the website.
Among the internet reactions, Hema Malini is now open. He told Bollywood Hungama, “It’s a shame, of course. It’s a shame that they forgot an actor who means so much to so many people in many parts of the world. Dharamji was popular and recognized everywhere. He never got too many awards during his life. Why should the Oscars care? Both of us, we were happy to be loved in our country. But the prize always eluded him. I also didn’t get an award for my best work in Lal Patthar and Meera.“
Disappointed fans reacted on social media
After the telecast of the Oscars, many Indians were outraged over Dharam’s applause on social media. One angry fan tweeted: “#Oscars or just a Hollywood PR stunt? 🤡🎭 Shame on Bollywood legend Dharmendra being left out of ‘In Memoriam’ tribute after 60 years of cinema. 💔 Another person said: “Oscars showed a list of people who died last year but didn’t mention legendary Indian actor Dharmendra’s entire life to cinema. Why so much hype when our icons get no recognition? After all, it’s primarily a Hollywood show, not really an international one. #Oscars.”However, fans also reacted this way, unaware that the legendary actor’s name was mentioned on the website, if not on the show. The live broadcast, however, paid tribute to recent Hollywood icons Annie Hall’s ‘Diane Keaton’, Schitt’s Creek’s ‘Catherine O’Hara’, actor-filmmaker Robert Redford, German actor Udo Kier, ‘When Harry Met Sally’ director Rob Reiner, The Godfather’s. Robert DuvallGene Hackman of The French Connection and Val Kilmer of Top Gun.
