The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024. This is India’s highest honour in cinema, given to recognise outstanding contribution to Indian film. The award will be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat.
The Award and Anant Nag’s Career
Anant Nag, born on 4 September 1948 in Karnataka, has worked in cinema for over five decades. He has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi cinema. His Kannada debut was in the film Sankalp, while his Hindi debut came in Ankur. He is known for roles in works such as Malgudi Days.
During his career, Nag has won 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. In 2025, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan. In 2023, he marked 50 years in cinema with a Golden Jubilee celebration.
Beyond acting, Nag served in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and in the Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1999, during which time he held office as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Bangalore University (North).
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 to honour the memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees.
What This Means For You
This award recognises the significant role that Indian cinema plays in national culture and development. For film enthusiasts and students of Indian cinema, it marks an acknowledgement of an actor whose career has spanned multiple languages and genres. The ceremony itself will be a major national cultural event where the finest works of Indian cinema over the past year will also be honoured.