A familiar face from Hindi cinema lit up the big screen at London’s biggest film night — not in a new release, but in remembrance. The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) paused for a deeply emotional
In Memoriam segment on Sunday night, and among the global legends remembered was India’s own Dharmendra. The late superstar, who passed away in November 2025, was honoured alongside some of world cinema’s most celebrated names. The tribute struck a chord not just inside the Royal Festival Hall, but thousands of miles away in India. A Global Goodbye Singer Jessie Ware took to the stage with a moving rendition of Barbra Streisand’s The Way We Were, as a montage of cinematic icons played on the screen. The segment remembered several international legends including Diane Keaton, Terence Stamp, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Tom Stoppard, Brigitte Bardot, Lalo Schifrin, Michael Madsen and Val Kilmer. When Dharmendra’s image appeared on screen, it was a proud moment — a Hindi film legend being honoured on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Why The Tribute Meant So Much
Dharmendra passed away on 24 November 2025 at his Mumbai residence at the age of 89, following a prolonged illness and a brief hospitalisation due to respiratory complications. Popularly known as the “He-Man” of Hindi cinema, he built a career that spanned more than six decades.
From Sholay to Seeta Aur Geeta and Mera Gaon Mera Desh, his performances defined an era. His screen presence, emotional depth and effortless charm made him one of Indian cinema’s most beloved stars. His final rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai, where the film fraternity and countless fans gathered to pay their respects.
Fans React Back Home
As clips from the BAFTA In Memoriam segment circulated online, fans in India flooded social media with emotional messages. Many called it a proud moment to see Dharmendra remembered on an international platform, describing it as “long overdue recognition” for a legend whose work travelled across generations.
