Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. The Press Information Bureau announced the honour on Wednesday.

Nag will receive the award at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nag on the recognition and highlighted his work across several decades. “Congratulations to the legendary Anant Nag Ji on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema. In whichever role he has played, he brought rare depth and authenticity. This is indeed a richly deserved honour for a truly distinguished artist,” Modi said in a post on X.

Nag, born Anant Nagarkatte on September 4, 1948, has appeared in more than 300 films, with over 250 of them in Kannada. He has also worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam and English cinema.

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His television work includes the popular Doordarshan series Malgudi Days, based on the stories of RK Narayan. Nag has won five Karnataka State Film Awards.

The actor was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the Government of India’s highest honour for contribution to Indian cinema and is presented under the National Film Awards.