Oscars 2026 ‘In Memoriam’ Snubs Dharmendra, Sparks Fan Outrage
Veteran Bollywood star left out of live broadcast segment, included only in AMPAS online list
Los Angeles, Mar 16: Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025, was not featured in the live “In Memoriam” segment at the 98th Academy Awards, sparking disappointment among fans.
This year’s tribute ran 15 minutes longer than previous ceremonies and highlighted Hollywood icons such as Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, and Robert Redford. Despite the extended runtime, Dharmendra’s name was absent from the broadcast.
The legendary “Sholay” actor, however, was included in the official online list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), alongside Indian film personalities Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.
Earlier this awards season, Dharmendra had received a tribute at the 79th BAFTA Awards in February 2026, where he was the only Indian actor featured in the ‘In Memoriam’ montage. Indian cinema figures have occasionally been honored in past Oscar ceremonies, including Shashi Kapoor, Sridevi, Irrfan Khan, and Bhanu Athaiya.
Other notable omissions from this year’s live broadcast included Brigitte Bardot, James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Bud Cort. Oscars producer Katy Mullan explained to The Hollywood Reporter that the expanded segment was intended to pay tribute to the numerous industry icons lost over the past year.
Fans and cinephiles took to social media to express their disappointment over Dharmendra’s absence from the televised segment, emphasizing his iconic status and contributions to Indian cinema.
