Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 (2026-09-16)

Veteran actor Anant Nag will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the Government of India has announced. The honour recognises his contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades.

The award will be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, scheduled to be held on 22 September 2026 at Kevadia in Gujarat.

Born on 4 September 1948 in Karnataka, Nag made his acting debut in the Kannada feature film Sankalp and his Hindi debut in Ankur. Over the years, he has portrayed a wide range of characters in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi cinema. His notable works include Malgudi Days.

His film career has brought him five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards. He has also received the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award, along with an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University (North). In 2023, he marked the golden jubilee of his 50-year career in cinema.

Beyond the screen, Nag served 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 that period, he held office as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2025.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969, when it was presented to Devika Rani. It was introduced by the Government of India to commemorate the contribution of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913. The highest honour in the field of cinema, it recognises recipients for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.