Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award; PM Modi congratulates veteran actor

Veteran actor Anant Nag has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest cinema honour, for 2024 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. Nag, who emerged as a prominent figure in the parallel cinema movement of the 1970s, has worked predominantly in the Kannada cinema. PM Narendra Modi, in his note celebrating Nag's achievement, highlighted his versatility and authenticity as a seasoned actor. In his X post on Wednesday evening, Modi wrote an appreciatory post for the veteran director, referring to his performances as "effortless" and his versatility "remarkable." He said, "Congratulations to the legendary Anant Nag Ji on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema (sic)."Modi talked about the "rare depth" of Nag's work. He added, "In whichever role he has played, he brought rare depth and authenticity. This is indeed a richly deserved honour for a truly distinguished artist (sic)." Congratulations to the legendary Anant Nag Ji on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema. In whichever role he— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2026 While Nag is best known for his extensive work in Kannada films, his contributions to Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Malayalam screen productions are also notable. The 78-year-old gained early critical recognition with landmark art-house feature films directed by Shyam Benegal, including Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Bhumika (1977), and Kondura (1978).Known for his natural acting style, versatility, and subtle screen presence, Nag built a career spanning nearly five decades across mainstream and parallel cinema. His television portrayal of various characters in RK Narayan's classic adaptation Malgudi Days, directed by his brother Shankar Nag, further cemented his reputation across domestic Indian audiences. Beyond acting, Nag has also served as a politician in Karnataka.He is yet to react to the news of receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was conferred the honour last year.The 78-year-old was also seen in KGF: Chapter 1 (2018), featuring actors Yash, Srinidhi Shetty and others in key roles. The Prashanth Neel directorial was produced by Vijay Kiragandur.In May 2025, Anant Nag also received the Padma Shri Award from President Droupadi Murmu.- EndsPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 18:04 IST