BAFTA 2026 Gave India a Moment Worth Crying Over — Dharmendra’s Tribute Alongside Hollywood Legends

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. At the 79th BAFTA Awards held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026, as Jessie Ware’s soulful rendition of The Way We Were filled the auditorium, the screen lit up with faces that shaped cinema forever — and right there, unmistakably, was Dharmendra.

India’s very own “He-Man of Bollywood,” who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89, was honoured in the In Memoriam segment — placed alongside French screen icon Brigitte Bardot and German legend Udo Kier. For millions of Indian fans watching, it was a deeply emotional, long-overdue global acknowledgement of a career spanning over 60 years and 300+ films.

India’s Shining Moment at BAFTA 2026

A Legend Remembered on the World Stage

Dharmendra, born Dharam Singh Deol in 1935, was one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved stars — a rare combination of rugged action hero, romantic lead, and comic performer. From Phool Aur Patthar to Sholay, his legacy is woven into the very fabric of Indian cinema.

His inclusion at BAFTA wasn’t just a tribute — it was a recognition that great cinema has no borders. The fact that he stood on that memorial reel alongside Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, and Robert Duvall speaks volumes about the global stature he had quietly earned over a lifetime.

India’s Double Celebration at BAFTA

Beyond the tribute, India had two other moments worth celebrating. Alia Bhatt became the talk of the evening when she delivered her presenter speech partly in Hindi — a bold, beautiful assertion of Indian identity on a global platform. And director Laxmipriya Devi’s Manipuri-language film Boong, backed by Farhan Akhtar, took home the Best Children’s and Family Film Award — a historic win for Indian regional cinema.

For more on India’s growing presence at global award shows, we’re tracking every milestone as it unfolds.

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