THEBUSINESSBYES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

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

The award, the highest honour in the field of Indian cinema, will be presented to the acclaimed actor at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony to be held on September 22, 2026, at Kevadia in Gujarat.

The decision was taken on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, which recognised Nag's illustrious cinematic journey spanning more than five decades and his contribution to enriching India's cultural landscape.

Born on September 4, 1948, in Karnataka, Nag is regarded as one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema. He made his acting debut with the Kannada feature film "Sankalp" and entered Hindi cinema with "Ankur". Over the course of his career, he has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi.

His diverse body of work includes acclaimed projects such as "Malgudi Days", besides numerous performances that have established him as a prominent figure in Indian cinema.

Nag's contribution has been recognised with five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards. He has also received the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award. Bangalore University (North) has conferred an honorary doctorate on him.

In 2023, Nag marked the golden jubilee of his 50-year journey in cinema, underlining the remarkable longevity of a career that has spanned generations of filmmakers, actors and audiences.

His public life has extended beyond cinema. Nag served as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1999. During his tenure as an MLA, he also served as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development.

The Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Nag in 2025.

Instituted in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was first presented to Devika Rani. Named after Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed "Raja Harishchandra", India's first full-length feature film in 1913, the award honours individuals for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

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

With the honour, Nag's five-decade journey across multiple Indian-language film industries will receive one of the country's most distinguished recognitions for cinematic contribution.