Mar 16, 2026 11:32am IST
Oscars 2026: Organizers Skip Dharmendra in ‘In Memoriam’; Shatrughan Sinha Says, ‘It’s A Matter Of Shame’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The 98th Academy Awards took place today at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and Robert Redford, Rob Reiner and Diane Keaton, who died last year were given heartfelt tributes during the event. However, the ‘ In Memoriam’ segment missed mentioning Indian screen legend Dharmendra who died in November 2025. The Bollywood matinee idol had worked in film for over six decades.
This is not the first time an icon from Indian cinema has been ignored by the Oscars. In 2021, India’s first superstar Dilip Kumar wasn’t mentioned in the segment. He was also an internationally recognised film star in his prime.
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Another screen legend (and now, politician) Shatrughan Sinha, sounded enraged, when reached for comment. He said he was curious to know why approval from the Oscars mattered for Indians. He told Variety India, “It is a matter of shame for them if they don’t honour Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and now, Dharmendra. Why does it matter to us? They are entrenched in our hearts forever.”
However, Esha Deol believes her father's memory and legacy is way beyond global award ceremonies. She tells Variety India, "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."
Back in 2022, actor Kangana Ranaut was livid when Lata Mangeshkar was not mentioned at either the Oscars or the Grammys. She reportedly wrote in her Insta stories, “We must take strong stands against any local awards who claim to be international and yet ignore and intentionally sideline legendary artists because of their race or ideologies...our media should totally boycott these biased local events who claim to be global awards.”
Meanwhile, this year, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” won six statuettes after being nominated in 13 categories, followed by Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” that bagged four awards on Oscars night.
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