Veteran Actor Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award on September 22

Veteran actor Anant Nag will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, the Government of India announced on Wednesday.

The award, India’s highest honour in the field of cinema, will be presented to the 78-year-old actor at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on September 22, 2026, in Kevadia, Gujarat.

The announcement was made by the Press Information Bureau on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee. The government noted that the honour acknowledges Nag’s illustrious cinematic journey spanning over five decades, which has inspired generations of artists and enriched the cultural landscape of the nation.

Born on September 4, 1948, in Karnataka, Anant Nag made his acting debut in the Kannada film Sankalp and entered Hindi cinema with Shyam Benegal’s Ankur. Over a career of more than 50 years, he has appeared in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Marathi cinema. He is also widely remembered for his work in the popular television series Malgudi Days.

Nag has previously received several accolades, including the Padma Bhushan in 2025, multiple Filmfare Awards, and Karnataka State Film Awards.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh.