Oscars 2026: Dharmendra Left Out Of ‘In Memoriam’ Segment; Rob Reiner, Catherine O'Hara Honoured

Viewers of the 98th Academy Awards noticed that legendary Hindi cinema actor Dharmendra, who died aged 89 in November 2025, did not appear in the “In Memoriam” tribute segment at Oscars 2026, sparking criticism from many fans who expected the veteran star to be acknowledged during the ceremony in Los Angeles.

The “In Memoriam” section at the Oscars each year remembers actors, directors, technicians and other film professionals from different countries who died in the past year. During Oscars 2026, the montage honoured several well-known Hollywood names, while Dharmendra’s omission drew sharp attention online soon after the telecast ended.

Oscars 2026 In Memoriam debate and Dharmendra

Among those recognised during the Oscars 2026 “In Memoriam” reel were American actor-filmmaker Robert Redford, “Annie Hall” actor Diane Keaton, “Schitt's Creek” actor Catherine O'Hara, German actor Udo Kier, “When Harry Met Sally” director Rob Reiner, “The Godfather” actor Robert Duvall, “The French Connection” (1971) actor Gene Hackman, and “Top Gun” actor Val Kilmer.

Fans expressed disappointment that Dharmendra’s name was absent while these Hollywood legends were remembered. Social media posts questioned why an actor widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s biggest stars, with a career stretching over forty years, did not feature in the Academy’s annual remembrance of global film talent.

Oscars 2026, BAFTA recognition and Indian presence

Earlier in the awards season, Dharmendra received a tribute at the 79th BAFTA Awards, held at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2026. The BAFTA “In Memoriam” segment listed Dharmendra after the actor’s death on November 24, 2025, underscoring how the British ceremony chose to recognise the screen icon’s contribution.

Dharmendra was the only Indian actor included in that BAFTA montage, even though other Indian performers such as Manoj Kumar, Asrani and Satish Shah also died in 2025. The choice highlighted the particular international visibility of Dharmendra’s work, which had long travelled beyond Hindi-speaking audiences.

India also had direct representation at the 98th Academy Awards. Indian-American filmmaker Geeta Gandhbhir became the first woman to secure nominations at the same Oscars ceremony in both Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short categories, for “The Perfect Neighbor” and “The Devil Is Busy” respectively, marking a notable milestone for documentary filmmakers of Indian origin.

Priyanka Chopra added to the Indian presence at Oscars 2026 by appearing as one of the presenters during the event. The ceremony itself featured major contests between films including “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another”, while actors Timothée Chalamet and Michael B Jordan were among those competing for top acting honours on the night.

Across more than four decades, Dharmendra built a body of work that ranged from romance and drama to action and comedy, making the actor a familiar name to several generations of filmgoers in India and the diaspora, a status many fans cited while criticising the absence during the Oscars tribute reel.

Many of Dharmendra’s best-known projects are regarded as key titles in Hindi cinema history, including collaborations with leading directors and co-stars across changing eras of filmmaking. These films span early black-and-white dramas, large-scale multistarrers, and late-career character roles that introduced the star to younger audiences.

Dharmendra’s final film “Ikkis” reached cinemas in early 2026, only weeks after the actor’s death on November 24, 2025, giving audiences one last chance to see the star on screen, while the contrasting treatment by BAFTA and Oscars 2026 in their “In Memoriam” segments has now become part of the wider conversation around how global awards ceremonies acknowledge Indian cinema.