In a touching and emotional note, BJP actor-MP Hema Malini She opened up about the overwhelming moment of receiving the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her husband and the film icon Dharmendra.President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award to Hema Malin at the Civic Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. At the event, Ahana Deol got emotional when her father Dharmendra’s name was announced. Her husband, Vaibhav Vohra, was sitting by her side.Sharing her feelings after the prestigious event, she described it as “a euphoric moment” and said she could feel the “warm presence of Dharam ji” next to her as she walked to receive the honour.“A euphoric moment! The moment I truly felt the warm presence of my husband Dharam ji, holding his hand and leading me to the gate where the Padma Vibhushan award awaited him,” she wrote.Recalling the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu said he was filled with great pride when he personally presented the award.“Yesterday at the quiet Padma award ceremony, when the President personally distributed the prestigious awards to the deserving, I sat representing Dharam ji and felt immense pride within me,” he shared.The veteran actor also reflected on the many memories he shared with Dharam ji, both as his actor and later as his life partner.“Memories of the years I spent with him, first as the lead in so many hit movies and later as his life partner. Tears welled up as these thoughts swirled around me,” she wrote.Describing Dharam ji as a loving husband, loving father and grandfather, he said he was admired by all who knew him.“He was a loving and caring husband, a loving father and grandfather, a good friend, a true philosopher, a reliable guide. Dharam ji exemplified all these noble qualities and much more. He was a generous, giving and good person, recognized and loved by all who knew him,” he added.Expressing his gratitude, he said he humbly accepted the award on behalf of the entire family and millions of fans and admirers of the actor.“I humbly accepted the award on behalf of our entire family, his millions of fans and well-wishers,” he said.Ending on a touching note, he thanked the Almighty for blessing him with a “wonderful soul mate” that he would cherish forever.“I thank the almighty for giving me a wonderful soul mate, memories that I will cherish till the end of my life. These are my true contributions, overwhelmed at the moment of receiving the nation’s second most prestigious award, Padma Vibhushan, on behalf of Dharam ji,” he wrote.Earlier, speaking to ANI, Hema Malini said that the honor was a moment of joy not only for the family but for the entire country: “It makes us very happy, the whole country is happy. If he had come earlier, Dharmendra ji would have been very happy, and seeing him, his fans would have been even happier,” she said.Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, was conferred on Dharmendra for his outstanding service to the arts.In an earlier statement, Hema Malini described the recognition as long overdue: “So proud that the government has recognized Dharam ji’s immense contribution to the film industry by awarding him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan,” she said, expressing gratitude to the Center for recognizing his legacy.Dharmendra, remembered as the original “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, died on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, leaving behind an incredible legacy spanning more than six decades. Known for his charismatic screen presence, gentle smile and versatility, he was regarded as one of the most iconic actors of Indian cinema.His works include classics like ‘Sholay’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke’, ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’ and ‘Anupama’. The ‘He Man’ of Indian cinema was unwell for a long time.On November 10, Dharmendra was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after his health deteriorated. Two days later, Dharmendra was discharged from the hospital as the family opted for home treatment.Unfortunately, he breathed his last on November 24, 2025 at the age of 89.On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the official list of Padma awardees for 2026, and on May 25, the awards were distributed to the awardees at a ceremony. Distinguished civilian honors recognize individuals in a variety of fields, including art, literature, social service, medicine, education and public service, for their excellence, dedication and long-term contribution to society.
