NEW DELHI: Legendary star Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, leaving a deep void in Hindi cinema, has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
Dharmendra’s journey stands as a testament to enduring talent and unwavering dedication. Notably, he was never confined to a single genre, achieving a rare balance of mass appeal by excelling in romance, action, comedy and social drama, a versatility that made him one of the most commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema. His last film, ‘Tiki’s’ was released on December 25.
On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled the official list of Padma awardees for 2026. The prestigious civilian honours recognise individuals from diverse fields, including arts, literature, social service, medicine, education and public service, for their excellence, dedication and long-term contribution to society.
Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali village of Punjab’s Ludhiana district, he was the son of Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, a school headmaster. Drawn by his deep love for cinema, Dharmendra moved to Mumbai and made his film debut with the 1960 romantic drama ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’, directed by Arjun Hingorani. Although the film failed commercially, it marked the beginning of his journey in the world he had long aspired to be part of.
He got his first commercial success in 1961 with Ramesh Saigal’s ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’, following it up with notable hits such as Mohan Kumar’s ‘Anpadh’ (1962) and Bimal Roy’s ‘Bandini’ (1963), the latter winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
