Esha Deol, daughter of late actor Dharmendra, has reacted to his omission from the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards. Speaking with Subhash K Jha for Variety India, Esha said she doesn't think 'it would ever make a difference to papa.' Dharmendra died in November 2025 in Mumbai.
Esha said that Dharmendra's 'heart has always been far too big to worry about such things.' She said, 'I don’t think it would ever make a difference to Papa. His heart has always been far too big to worry about such things. For him, life was never about recognition or status—it was about love, kindness, and the place he held in people’s hearts.'
Hema Malini, Dharmendra's wife, had earlier said, 'Personally, Dharam ji never bothered about all this! The love from his fans was above everything.'
The In Memoriam segment at this year's Oscars ran for 15 minutes longer than in previous years, with special remembrances for Hollywood legends Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, and Robert Redford. Despite the extended runtime, Dharmendra's name was absent from the broadcast.
The late actor was, however, included in the official online list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) alongside five other Indian film personalities.
