Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Anant Nag Conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Award After Five Decades
Anant Nag is a famous Indian actor who has worked in films for more than 50 years.
He is especially known for Kannada cinema.
Unlike many stars who played action heroes, Nag often played ordinary people in a natural way.
He acted in at least 300 films and appeared in movies, television shows, and plays.
He was part of important parallel cinema films such as Ankur, Nishant, and Manthan.
He also became popular through comedy films and the television series Malgudi Days.
Nag briefly worked in Karnataka politics before returning his main attention to acting.
He has now received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinema honour.
He is the second Kannada artist to receive it after Dr Rajkumar.
Anant Nag has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contributions to Indian cinema.
The award will be presented during the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on September 22 at Kevadia, Gujarat.
Nag has acted in at least 300 films across Kannada, other South Indian languages, and Hindi.
His career includes parallel cinema, comedy films, television, theatre, and political service in Karnataka.
He will become the second Kannada artist to receive the award after Dr Rajkumar.
- Who
- Actor Anant Nag, a veteran of Kannada, South Indian, Hindi, theatre, and television productions.
- What
- He has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contributions to Indian cinema.
- When
- The award will be presented on September 22 during the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony; Nag began his Kannada film career in 1973.
- Where
- The ceremony will take place in Kevadia, Gujarat; Nag was born in Mumbai and has family roots in Karnataka.
- Why
- The honour recognizes his more than five decades of acting and his contributions to Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema.
- Award
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- Presentation
- 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on September 22
- Venue
- Kevadia, Gujarat
- Film career
- More than five decades and at least 300 films
- Kannada recipients
- Nag will be the second Kannada artist to receive the award after Dr Rajkumar
- Other major honour
- Padma Bhushan, received in 2025
- Political service
- Served in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and later represented Malleshwaram in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly