Veteran Actor Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024

New Delhi, September 16, 2026: Veteran actor Anant Nag will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema and an illustrious career spanning more than five decades.

The Government of India announced the award on Wednesday following the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee. The honour will be presented to Anant Nag at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, scheduled to be held on September 22 at Kevadia in Gujarat.

Born on September 4, 1948, in Karnataka, Anant Nag is known for his versatility and extensive body of work across several Indian film industries. He made his acting debut with the Kannada film Sankalp and entered Hindi cinema with Ankur. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi cinema.

His notable screen work includes Malgudi Days, among several other films and television projects that established him as a versatile performer capable of portraying a wide range of characters.

Nag has received five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards. His other honours include the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University (North).

In 2023, Nag marked 50 years in cinema, completing a golden jubilee of his acting career. Beyond the film industry, he also served in public life as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1999. During his tenure as an MLA, he served as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development.

Nag was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2025 for his contribution to public life and the arts.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 to commemorate the contribution of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed Raja Harishchandra, India’s first full-length feature film, in 1913. The award is the country’s highest honour in the field of cinema and recognises outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

The award comprises a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh. Anant Nag will formally receive the honour at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia on September 22.