Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024

Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, one of India’s most prestigious honours in cinema. The award recognises his contribution to Indian filmmaking over a career spanning several decades. He is scheduled to receive the honour from President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, which will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.

Anant Nag began his career as a theatre artist before making his screen debut with the 1973 film Sankalpa. He later became widely known for his work in Kannada cinema, the television series Malgudi Days and several Hindi films directed by Shyam Benegal. He has acted in more than 300 films in Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and English. His Telugu credits include Premalekhalu, Bheeshma and Balu, while his notable Kannada films include Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu and KGF. Apart from cinema, Nag also served as an MLA in Karnataka. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2025. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award now adds another major milestone to his long career.