The 98th Academy Awards, held in Los Angeles on Sunday night (early Monday morning in India), celebrated the best films and performances of the year. As part of the ceremony, the Academy honoured film industry personalities who passed away over the past year through its traditional “In Memoriam” segment.
However, legendary Indian actor Dharmendra, who died in 2025, was not included in the televised tribute during the ceremony. His name and photograph were later featured on the official Oscars “In Memoriam” list published online, which recognised many artists from across the global film industry.
A Different Format for the Tribute
This year, the Academy adopted a slightly different format for the tribute, moving away from the usual video montage. Instead, the memorial was divided into multiple segments, with several prominent Hollywood personalities being honoured through personalised tributes.
The broadcast segment included acknowledgements of celebrated figures such as Robert Redford, Rob Reiner, Robert Duvall, Catherine O’Hara, and Diane Keaton.
Director Rob Reiner was honoured by actor Billy Crystal, who collaborated with him in the classic film When Harry Met Sally. Meanwhile, Barbra Streisand paid tribute to Robert Redford, her co-star in The Way We Were. She described Redford as a “brilliant, subtle actor” and an “intellectual cowboy,” before singing a few lines from the film’s iconic title song.
Actor Rachel McAdams also participated in the segment, delivering a tribute to fellow Canadian actor Diane Keaton.
Extended List Includes Indian Cinema Legends
While the televised segment included only a limited number of names, the Academy later released a more comprehensive In Memoriam list on its official website.
The extended list recognised several prominent personalities from Indian cinema, including Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, B. Saroja Devi, and Kota Srinivasa Rao. Their images were featured alongside global film industry veterans, acknowledging their contributions to cinema.
Remembering Dharmendra
Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, one of the most iconic stars of Indian cinema, passed away on November 24, 2025, at his Mumbai residence. He had recently been discharged from Breach Candy Hospital earlier that month.
He would have turned 90 on December 8, 2025.
Earlier this year, the Government of India honoured him posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award.
Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini expressed her pride at the recognition, saying she was “so proud that the government has recognised Dharam ji’s immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award.”
