Emotional Hema Malini Accepts Dharmendra’s Padma Vibhushan

MUMBAI -Veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini turned emotional while receiving the prestigious Padma Vibhushan on behalf of her late husband, Bollywood legend Dharmendra, at the Padma Awards ceremony held in New Delhi on May 25.

Sharing a series of emotional moments from the ceremony, Hema Malini revealed that she felt Dharmendra’s warm presence beside her throughout the occasion.

She wrote, “An euphoric moment! A moment when I actually felt my husband Dharam ji’s warm presence, holding my hand and guiding me to the dais where his Padma Vibhushan award awaited him.”

The veteran actress said she was overwhelmed while representing Dharmendra at the ceremony, where President Droupadi Murmu personally handed over the honor.

“Yesterday at the serene Padma award function, as Her Excellency the President personally handed out the prestigious awards to the deserving achievers, I sat representing Dharam ji and felt an immense pride rise within me. Memories of the years spent with him, first as a costar in so many hit movies and later as his life partner. Tears welled up as these thoughts were stirred within me,” she wrote.

Remembering Dharmendra as a husband, father and guide, Hema Malini added, “He had been a loving and caring husband, an affectionate father and a grandfather, well-meaning friend, true philosopher, trusted guide. Dharam ji exemplified all these noble qualities and much more. He was a generous, giving, good human being recognized and loved by all who knew him.”

She further said, “I accepted the award with all humility on behalf of our entire family, millions of his fans and well-wishers. I thank the Almighty for having given me a wonderful soul mate, memories of whom I will cherish till the end of my life.”

Actor Esha Deol, Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s elder daughter, also shared an emotional note remembering her father and expressing how deeply the family missed his presence during the special moment.

Sharing glimpses from the ceremony, Esha wrote, “A moment of pride A moment of emotion, How we so deeply wished he was present today dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue suit looking as handsome as always with excitement of a young boy going to receive the prestigious award.”

“Yesterday as my mother represented our family and received the award. And the youngest of us Ahana represented all the 6 of us his children & shed tears & clapped in honor of our father A man who we love, who we cherish, who we miss & who we proudly call our papa. Forever in our hearts,” Esha wrote.

Dharmendra, regarded as one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated actors, passed away in November last year after prolonged age-related health complications. He was posthumously honored with the Padma Vibhushan. (IANS)

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