Anil Sharma opens up on Dharmendra's posthumous Padma Vibhushan award win: ‘One only wishes this honour had come earlier'

Veteran Bollywood legend Dharmendra has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, as announced in the 2026 Padma Awards list on the eve of Republic Day. The iconic actor passed away on November 24, 2025. Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who worked with him on acclaimed films such as ‘Hukumat’ and ‘Apne’, expressed that the recognition, though well-deserved, should have come during the actor’s lifetime.Taking to his X (fornerly Twitter) handle, Anil posted a photo of Dharmendra and wrote, “Heartfelt congratulations to every admirer of @aapkadharam ji on his #PadmaVibhushan. One only wishes this honour had come earlier, when he could have accepted it himself… the joy would have been immeasurable. Yet the truth remains… some legacies rise above awards. The love, respect, and admiration Dharam ji received from generations is far greater than any title , medal or any award”.