New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh) — Veteran actor Anant Nag has been chosen to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his monumental contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on Wednesday. The honour, recommended by the Central Government’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, marks the pinnacle of recognition for an illustrious cinematic career spanning more than five decades. The award will be officially presented to the veteran performer during the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony scheduled to take place on September 22 at Kevadia in Gujarat.
Born on September 4, 1948, in Karnataka, Nag made his screen debut in the Kannada film Sankalp and broke into Hindi cinema with Shyam Benegal’s acclaimed feature Ankur. Over a career spanning more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Marathi, he established himself as one of the country’s most versatile actors, with prominent works including the classic television adaptation Malgudi Days. His decorated career includes five Filmfare Awards, five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, and an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University. In 2025, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan.
Beyond his cinematic achievements, Nag also played an active role in public administration, serving as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994, an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1999, and as the Minister of State for Bangalore City Development.
First instituted in 1969 to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke—the visionary filmmaker behind India’s maiden full-length feature Raja Harishchandra in 1913—the honour stands as the nation’s highest recognition in the field of cinema. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a ceremonial shawl, and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
