The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) paid tribute to Hindi cinema legend Dharmendra in its ‘In Memoriam’ segment. Dharmendra died in November last year. Now, his wife and actress Hema Malini has reacted to the tribute given to Dharmendra during the BAFTA Awards ceremony, and said that it felt great to remember him in this big awards ceremony, because he was such a person who had fans in every corner of the world.
What did Hema say when Dharmendra was honored at BAFTA?
Speaking to Variety India, Hema Malini said about Dharmendra’s honor at the BAFTA, “He was someone whose presence transcended boundaries. He had fans in every part of the world. Oh God, the way crowds would surround him in foreign countries.” He further said, “We didn’t travel much together except for shooting, when we got a chance to spend time together. That’s why we used to sign a lot of films together so that we could spend time together.”
Hema Malini misses Dharmendra every moment
Hema Malini also said that ever since he passed away, she misses him every minute. She said, “I miss him every single minute. I keep asking myself, is he really gone? When will I meet him again?” She also talked about her favorite films, saying, “I love ‘Chupke Chupke’ — who doesn’t? And ‘Sholay’, because we had a great time during the shooting. I haven’t seen all his films. As soon as I get some time, I’ll watch them one by one.”
Dharmendra died last year
Dharmendra died on 24 November 2025 at the age of 89 at his Mumbai home after staying in the hospital for some time due to prolonged illness and respiratory problems. The veteran actor, known as the “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, had a career spanning more than six decades. From Sholay to Sita Aur Geeta and Mera Gaon Mera Desh, many films made him the favorite star of the audience. His screen presence, emotional depth and his charm made him one of the most favorite stars of Indian cinema. Fans are still in shock over the loss of their favorite actor.
