Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award NEW DELHI: Veteran actor Anant Nag, whose career spans Kannada cinema, Hindi films and the much-loved television series ‘Malgudi Days’, will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday, recognising more than five decades of work across languages.The 78-year-old actor will be presented with India’s highest cinema honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026. The recognition follows the Padma Bhushan conferred on him in 2025.Announcing the selection, the government said Nag’s cinematic journey had “inspired generations of artists and enriched the cultural landscape of the nation”. He was chosen on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.Nag made his film debut with the Kannada feature ‘Sankalp’ and entered Hindi cinema with ‘Ankur’. Over a career that marked its golden jubilee in 2023, he has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi. His television work includes ‘Malgudi Days’, adding another dimension to a career distinguished by its range of characters and languages.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHis honours include five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards, besides the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and the state’s lifetime achievement award.Nag’s public life also extended beyond the screen. He served in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and in the legislative assembly from 1994 to 1999. During his assembly tenure, he held office as minister of state for Bangalore city development.Instituted in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recognises outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema. It commemorates the filmmaker who directed ‘Raja Harishchandra’, India’s first full-length feature film, in 1913.The award carries a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMathura SP Leader Rajan Rizvi Booked Over Alleged WhatsApp Messages to Woman‘Unacceptable’: India Summons Islamabad Envoy As Pakistan’s Ship Collides With Indian Naval UnitGurugram Hit-and-Run: Sia Says ‘Arrest Is Not Enough’, Demands Strict Action‘Iron Lady’ Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman To Head CRPF’s Elite CoBRA Commando UnitIndia, US Begin Yudh Abhyas 2026 With 1,200 Troops In Uttarakhand, Focus On High-Altitude WarfareIndia, US Begin Yudh Abhyas 2026 With 1,200 Troops In Uttarakhand, Focus On High-Altitude WarfareBengal Govt Transfers IPS Officer Bushra Bano After ‘Assalam Aleikum’ Video Row100% Tariffs On India?: US House Advances Bill Enabling Trump To Target Top Russian Oil BuyersModi Govt Announces UPI Charges: 0.4% MDR Above ₹2000 From Oct 15 | Who Will Pay And Who Won’t?Omar Abdullah LAUDS India’s Foreign Policy Over BRICS Pahalgam Mention, Reacts To China’s Praise123Photostories10 unconventional paneer dishes from across India‘I got to know, yahan toh kat gaya’: Isha Rikhi hints at ‘physical, emotional, social cheating’ after Badshah split5 vitamin B12-rich foods you can eat daily: One may already be in your kitchenFrom divorce with ex-husband Onler Kom to allegations of an extra-marital affair: Bigg Boss 20 contestant Mary Kom’s controversiesSuriya and Jyotika turn their vow renewal ceremony into a fashion fairytale in matching all-white ensembles after 20 years5 spiritual practices for people who find meditation difficultCoconut oil vs rosemary oil for hair growth: Which one works better?Autumn 2026 night sky: 5 meteor showers and celestial events for fall stargazingRani Mukerji ditches the glam gown for a classic black saree and lets old-school Bollywood have its moment at Sabyasachi’s NYFW showNicole Kidman was born in Honolulu: The Hawaiian city where royalty, Pearl Harbor and Waikīkī meet; 5 historic places to see123Hot PicksEPFO WhatsApp ServiceEngineers day 2026Stock Market TodayRajasthan Election ResultCrude oil price todayKVS NVS Tier 2 resultBank of Baroda LBO recruitmentPunjab Lecturer Cadre admit cardUPI transactionsTop TrendingDisha Salian CaseUmar KhalidGuwahati Murder CaseSupreme CourtLebron JamesStephanie VaquerGurgaon Hit and RunRajasthan Election ResultUS Iran WarGuwahati Murder Case
NEW DELHI: Veteran actor Anant Nag, whose career spans Kannada cinema, Hindi films and the much-loved television series ‘Malgudi Days’, will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday, recognising more than five decades of work across languages.The 78-year-old actor will be presented with India’s highest cinema honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026. The recognition follows the Padma Bhushan conferred on him in 2025.Announcing the selection, the government said Nag’s cinematic journey had “inspired generations of artists and enriched the cultural landscape of the nation”. He was chosen on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.Nag made his film debut with the Kannada feature ‘Sankalp’ and entered Hindi cinema with ‘Ankur’. Over a career that marked its golden jubilee in 2023, he has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi. His television work includes ‘Malgudi Days’, adding another dimension to a career distinguished by its range of characters and languages.
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His honours include five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards, besides the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and the state’s lifetime achievement award.Nag’s public life also extended beyond the screen. He served in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and in the legislative assembly from 1994 to 1999. During his assembly tenure, he held office as minister of state for Bangalore city development.Instituted in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recognises outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema. It commemorates the filmmaker who directed ‘Raja Harishchandra’, India’s first full-length feature film, in 1913.The award carries a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.