Veteran Hindi film star Dharmendra was honoured at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, where the actor featured in the BAFTA 2026 In Memoriam segment, prompting emotional reactions from fans in India and abroad who remembered the influence, warmth and unforgettable screen presence that earned Dharmendra the title of He-Man of Bollywood across generations.
The tribute followed Dharmendra’s death in November, shortly before the actor’s 90th birthday. Dharmendra had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital for age-related health issues and later died at the Juhu residence, surrounded by sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and first wife Prakash Kaur, while second wife Hema Malini and daughter Esha Deol attended the cremation.
Dharmendra BAFTA tribute and key moments from the 79th British Academy Film Awards
The 79th British Academy Film Awards held extra meaning for Indian viewers, as Dharmendra’s remembrance coincided with other Indian highlights at the ceremony, where Alia Bhatt presented the Non-English category, greeted the audience with a namaskar, introduced the award in Hindi, and Farhan Akhtar-backed Boong, directed by Manipuri filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi, received the Best Children’s & Family Film Award.
During the BAFTA 2026 In Memoriam tribute, singer Jessie Ware delivered an emotional performance of The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand, while a video montage played in the background, showing film personalities who died over the past year, including Diane Keaton, Terence Stamp, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Tom Stoppard, Brigitte Bardot, Lalo Schifrin, Michael Madsen and Val Kilmer.
Esha Deol Reacts To Tribute To Dharmendra
Dharmendra appeared in the montage, placed among international cinema figures such as Brigitte Bardot and Udo Kier, underlining the actor’s place in global film memory as the segment rolled before a worldwide audience that recognised Dharmendra’s vast body of work in Indian cinema across action, drama and comedy films.
The recognition at BAFTA 2026 led to strong reactions online, with admirers sharing clips and images of the In Memoriam sequence; one social media user wrote, “Much deserved,” while another simply called Dharmendra a “Legend.” as fans recalled favourite performances and expressed grief over the loss of a star linked with their own memories.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra’s daughter Esha Deol also reacted and told PTI, “”That’s my papa, his magic, a pure heart, the purest soul who touched millions of hearts across continents…not just as an actor but as a humble human being”.
Across a long career, Dharmendra moved from intense roles in classics such as Phool Aur Patthar and Bandini to comic timing and effortless charm in films like Sholay, Chupke Chupke and Satyamev Jayate, balancing tough action heroes and gentle romantic leads while becoming one of the key faces of Hindi cinema’s golden age.
Dharam ji, as fans affectionately refer to Dharmendra, is remembered not only for the long list of hit films but also for humility, kindness and genuine love for cinema, and earlier this year the Government of India honoured Dharmendra posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, marking formal recognition of a legacy that continues to influence younger actors and engage audiences.
For viewers in India and the diaspora, seeing Dharmendra included in the BAFTA 2026 In Memoriam segment brought together grief and pride, as the global tribute, national honours and the continuing popularity of Dharmendra’s films reinforced how the actor’s work, image and influence remain part of everyday conversations about Hindi cinema even after Dharmendra’s passing.