08 June,2026 12:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Esha Deol and Dharmendra (Pic/Instagram)
The Deol family recently witnessed an emotional moment when Dharmendra was posthumously honoured with Padma Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. Recalling the occasion, Esha Deol shared her feelings about seeing her mother accept the award. She also cherished the memories that continue to bring both comfort and emotion.
In an interview with Times of India, Esha said, "Seeing my mother accept the award on his behalf was deeply emotional. There was pride, gratitude and, of course, a wish that he could have been there himself. I expressed my emotions because some moments deserve to be felt and shared. What I felt that day wasn't just mine - it was something our family, his fans, and so many people who love him were feeling."
Esha said she believes her father should have received such recognition much earlier in his career. "He deserved many more, too - that's what we feel. But honestly, knowing my father, awards were never his measure of success. The love and respect he received from people was always his greatest achievement."
Asked about her favourite memory with Dharmendra, she said, "Every phase of my life has had his presence in it. It's very difficult to pick just one. It's a lifetime. It's 44 years of a daughter looking up to that one man, her father. Just to be able to hold his hand, hear his voice - I miss everything about him every single day, and I always will."
She added, "I always called him my Teddy Bear, and today my bed is filled with teddy bears because it just reminds me of him. The loss never really leaves. You just learn to carry it. I carry him in my heart, and I carry his strength with me wherever I am now."
Heaping praise on her parents' legacy, she shared, "I always say I am blessed to be born to such beautiful human beings. My parents are one of a kind and irreplaceable. There can never be another Dharmendra or Hema Malini."
For the uninitiated, Dharmendra was touted to be one of Bollywood's most loved superstars. The actor passed away in November last year at the age of 89 after prolonged age-related health complications. His demise left the film industry and millions of fans heartbroken.
He was posthumously conferred with the Padma Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. On May 25, veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini received the prestigious honour on behalf of her late husband. The emotional occasion also saw Dharmendra's youngest child, Ahana Deol, representing all six siblings of the Deol family.
