It has stirred some public debate all over India about Mathura district sports events. It featured the veteran actress and Member of Parliament Hema Malini, wearing a pink tracksuit, distributing medals to young athletes. What was remarkable also wasn’t the ceremony, but that she was so stern, did not offer a smile, a handshake or warmth. Within days the video went viral, and the film received derisive or angry backlash that many people would be charged with arrogance and rudeness. Others, meanwhile, were quick to defend her, citing family grief and practical matters. Public Figures, the article points out, are judged both on their performances of a ceremonial role.
The Incident:
Video of Hema Malini distributing awards showed her holding awards in a serious expression. She never made small gestures of hospitality and support, and not a smile, a handshake, or a warm congratulatory act of goodwill for the winners. To critics, this came off as cold and dismissive, particularly at a celebratory sports event for which young athletes were eager to be acknowledged when people came out to applaud. People took the lack of warmth on her in not-so-human-way and took a cocky look, adding to the complaints that she isn’t particularly frequent in her constituency. Her own conditions, defenders said, may have affected her behaviour. Hema Malini had lost her husband, the legendary actor Dharmendra on Nov 24, 2025. She may simply be dealing with grief at 77 years old. Others speculated that hygiene-related concerns may prevent her from reaching out and shaking hands or spending time around participants, particularly in the presence of crowds.
She's treating them worse than buffaloes and cows. A handshake and a smile wouldn't kill her... pic.twitter.com/UUOaEBxnoc
— Dr Ranjan (@AAPforNewIndia) January 11, 2026
Critique and political context:
This backlash redoubled decades-long criticism against Hema Malini as a member of Parliament. Some constituents have complained that she rarely comes to Mathura and cannot be seen by the public. It was further fanned by the video of the medal ceremony; critics said her stern manner symbolized alienation from the people she represents. In politics, perception is, often, a lot more important than performance. A leader’s facial expressions, body language and gestures are under continuous surveillance. Even those little things (like smiling and shaking hands) can influence how people feel about their representatives. For Hema Malini, the viral clip served as a reminder of how quickly public opinion can shift by looks alone.
Defenses and Empathy:
Supporters urged empathy. They noted that grieving may alter one’s interactions with others, months after a loss. It may be impractical to ask that someone who just lost his or her spouse should be in constant positivity when it happens. Others said it can be hard to keep up energy and warmth over an extended period of public life at her age. There is too the possibility that her stern demeanor perhaps wasn’t on purpose. The serious expression there may well be in some that is not intended. And no such thing is wrong with people who just look at things from a distance for a short video. It simply isn’t fair to determine what she felt and when based in just a few minutes of video.
The Larger Problem:
Public Figures’ Accessibility. The incident does invoke larger questions about the way that public figures, on the one hand, shoulder ceremonial responsibilities vs personal life and conditions. Most citizens expect warmth, accessibility, and friendliness from their leaders. At the same time, leaders are human beings who can also experience grief, fatigue, or health issues. The tug-of-war between public expectations and private realities is hardly exclusive to Hema Malini, it is a struggle that many of us have to confront in public.
The Athletes’ Perspective:
Curiously enough, the young winners themselves appeared unscathed by the controversy. For them, medals made any presenter proud at the end of his speech, and it was a proud moment. They were appreciated and celebrated by the event. Which just goes to show that public debate at times more of the spectacle rather than intent of the ceremony is key.
Hema Malini's intense look at the Mathura sports event brought criticism, defenses, and debate. As to whether they were arrogant, whether the former were arrogant or pragmatic, others cited grief or simply the inevitable grief or practical concern. The episode points to the fact that public figures are not only evaluated based on what they do but also what they say and their accessibility. It also reminds us that leaders are people too, who carry their own demons along with the weight of personal adversity even on the job. The young athletes, who were celebrating their success, were the intention of the event. Because public figures should know how their demeanor is perceived and citizens should remember that everyone comes with a human being who has emotions and struggles, the controversy is a lesson in empathy and perception.
