Kannada cinema legend Anant Nag to be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke award

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Sep 17, 2026: Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been selected for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the Government of India announced.

The award, the highest honour in Indian cinema, will be presented to Anant Nag at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony to be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.

Announcing the honour, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said Anant Nag was being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema and his distinguished cinematic journey that has inspired generations.

With the honour, Anant Nag becomes the second actor from the Kannada film industry to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The late Dr Rajkumar was the first Kannada actor to receive the award, in 1995.

Born Anant Nagarkatte on September 4, 1948, Anant Nag began his career in theatre before establishing himself as one of the prominent actors of Kannada cinema. He made his film debut with the Kannada movie Sankalpa in 1973 and made his Hindi cinema debut with Shyam Benegal’s Ankur in 1974.

Over the decades, he has appeared in several acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Bayalu Daari (1976), Kanneshwara Rama (1977), Naa Ninna Bidalaare (1979), Chandanada Gombe (1979), Benkiya Bale (1983), Hendthige Helbedi (1989), Ganeshana Maduve (1990), Gowri Ganesha (1991), Mungaru Male (2006), Gaalipata (2008), Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016), Raajakumara (2017), Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai (2018), K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and Gaalipata 2 (2022).

He also gained widespread recognition for his role in the television series Malgudi Days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anant Nag on the honour, describing him as a distinguished artist whose performances and versatility had made a significant contribution to Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema.

Anant Nag has acted in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu cinema.

His honours include five Karnataka State Film Awards. He was also conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2025.