The Oscars' highly anticipated In Memoriam segment is traditionally a poignant moment to honour the global film icons we lost over the past year. However, viewers watching the broadcast across India were left completely shocked when the segment entirely omitted the legendary Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89.
Here is the complete breakdown of the massive broadcast omission, the internet's fiery reaction, and how a quiet website update only made things worse!
The Broadcast Snub: 15 Minutes, Zero Recognition 🎬
The Expanded Segment: Ahead of the ceremony, the Oscars' producers boasted that this year's In Memoriam tribute had been significantly expanded (running 15 minutes longer than usual) to properly honour the massive losses the industry faced.
The Glaring Omission: Despite the extended runtime and special musical tributes to Hollywood veterans, Dharmendra—a titan of Indian cinema with a staggering 65-year career and over 300 films to his credit—was completely left out of the televised montage.
The Fan Backlash: Social media instantly erupted. Fans rightly pointed out that in previous years, the Academy had proudly featured Indian legends like Irrfan Khan, Sridevi, Shashi Kapoor, and Bhanu Athaiya. Omitting the Sholay and Chupke Chupke superstar led many to fiercely brand the Oscars as "just a local Hollywood show" that fails to respect true international cinematic heritage.
The BAFTA Contrast: A Lesson in Global Respect 🇬🇧
What makes the Academy's oversight even more glaring is how differently another major global awards body handled the exact same situation.
Just last month, the 79th BAFTA Awards in London proudly featured Dharmendra in their own In Memoriam broadcast.
He was the only Indian actor featured in the British montage, proving that his monumental contribution to global arts was widely recognised across the pond.
The 'Online-Only' Save 💻
Following the immediate digital backlash during the broadcast, the Academy attempted a swift, quiet save.
The Website Update: While his face and name never made it to the global television broadcast, the Academy quickly updated the official In Memoriam page on their website, adding Dharmendra (alongside the late Manoj Kumar) to their extended text-only list of 300 names.
The Reaction: For the fans, this felt like an afterthought. Being relegated to an online footnote rather than receiving a proper televised tribute was seen as deeply disrespectful to an actor who was recently posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
SantaBanta Verdict:
The fans have every right to be outraged! Dharmendra was not just a Bollywood star; he was an absolute institution who defined an entire era of Indian storytelling. When an actor holds the record for starring in the highest number of hit films in Hindi cinema history, a simple photo in a global broadcast is the bare minimum. The Academy's failure to recognise him on stage is a massive, incredibly disappointing oversight!
