Veteran actor Anant Nag has dedicated the 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award to the people of Karnataka, crediting the state’s film culture, audiences and creative community for shaping his five-decade journey in cinema.
The 78-year-old actor was selected for the country’s highest cinema honour for his contribution to Indian cinema. The award will be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.
Speaking after the announcement, Anant Nag said the honour belonged as much to Kannadigas as it did to him. He recalled how Karnataka gave him the freedom and opportunities to move between art films and commercial cinema.
“All this was possible because of Karnataka and Karnataka only,” Nag said, describing the state’s cultural environment as central to his career.
He also thanked producers, directors, fellow actors and, above all, audiences. Nag said Kannada audiences gave filmmakers the space to experiment and supported different kinds of cinema.
His journey was not a straightforward move from theatre to mainstream films. Born in Karnataka in 1948, Nag was sent to Mumbai at the age of 12. He later returned to Karnataka and began exploring theatre while studying and working in a bank.
At 18, he entered the stage and spent about five years working in theatre. Those years helped shape the actor who would later become one of the most recognisable faces of Kannada cinema.
Nag made his film debut with the Kannada movie Sankalp in 1973. He later moved into Hindi cinema with Shyam Benegal’s Ankur. His career eventually spread across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Marathi films.
He has acted in more than 300 films during a career spanning more than five decades. His work has included both parallel cinema and mainstream commercial films, allowing him to work with filmmakers from different generations.
His association with television also brought him a wider national audience. Nag was part of the much-loved series Malgudi Days, based on the works of R.K. Narayan. The show remains one of the best-known television projects associated with Indian storytelling.
Nag said Karnataka offered something he found difficult to find elsewhere — an audience for both serious art cinema and what he described as sober commercial films. That environment allowed him to take on varied roles without being restricted to one particular style of filmmaking.
The actor also recalled the influence of Kannada cinema legend Dr Rajkumar, the first Kannada actor to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Rajkumar received the honour in 1995.
With Nag’s selection, Kannada cinema has once again received national recognition through one of Indian cinema’s most prestigious awards. Nag compared himself with Rajkumar while speaking about the honour, describing the legendary actor as a giant who had already travelled across the cinematic landscape before him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nag after the award announcement. PM Modi said the actor’s performances, versatility and artistic contribution had left a strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema. He also described the recognition as a richly deserved honour and highlighted Nag’s ability to bring depth and authenticity to his roles.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award adds to an already long list of honours for Nag. He received the Padma Bhushan in 2025 and has won five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards. His other recognitions include the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award.
His career has also extended beyond acting. Nag served as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and later represented the state Assembly from 1994 to 1999. He also served as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development during his political career.
Nag’s latest honour comes at a time when Kannada cinema has gained wider national and international attention. While newer films have taken the language industry to larger audiences, Nag represents an earlier generation that helped establish Kannada cinema’s reputation for strong storytelling and character-driven performances.
The actor’s own account of his career places Karnataka at the centre of that journey. He has credited the state’s filmmakers, theatre community and audiences for giving him room to explore different forms of cinema.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 will formally be presented to Anant Nag on September 22 at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia. The recognition will mark another milestone in a career that has connected Kannada cinema with audiences across India for more than five decades.
