Anant Nag gets Dadasaheb Phalke Award; veteran actor recalls his journey from theatre to cinema

With a career spanning more than five decades, Nag is the second Kannada actor to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in cinema.

Accepting the award, Nag reflected on his journey from theatre to cinema and said he had never imagined where his career would eventually take him.

“It’s a great honour to be here with you, and I am trying to digest the majesty of this function. I have not attended many, or perhaps any, such gatherings, but I am very happy to be with you all today,” he said.

“As an actor, you have seen me perform, and you have seen some of the snippets. I grew up in an ashram and a mutt in my childhood, up to the age of 12. Thereafter, I was sent to Mumbai, where I got a chance to act in a play, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the same poet of Bengal, and that’s how my career started. But when I say ‘career’, at that point I had no idea what would happen in the future.”

From theatre to cinema

Nag recalled a line from Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam — “Udaranimittam bahukrita vesham” — and linked it to Kanakadasa’s Ellaru maduvudu hottegagi and the Hindi phrase paapi pet ke liye, reflecting on how people take on different roles to earn a living.

“In about five years, I acted in around 50 plays, which became my training ground for acting. Thereafter, I was called to play some roles in cinema — first in Kannada, then in Hindi with Shyam Benegal, M.S. Sathyu and many others,” he said.

“Although I did act in several Hindi films, the atmosphere for new-wave films, art films and commercial films was different. My opportunities in Karnataka were great, so I said, let me go to Bangalore and settle down there, which became my karmabhoomi,” he added.

Anant Nag's early career

Born on September 4, 1948, Nag began his artistic journey in theatre in Mumbai, working in Kannada, Konkani, Marathi and Hindi plays.

During his theatre years, he worked with prominent personalities including Satyadev Dubey, Girish Karnad and Amol Palekar.

Nag entered Kannada cinema with Sankalpa in 1973. Soon afterwards, theatre director Satyadev Dubey introduced him to filmmaker Shyam Benegal, leading to his Hindi debut in Ankur (1974).

He subsequently became an important figure in India's parallel cinema movement, appearing in films including Benegal's Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Bhumika, Kondura and Kalyug (1981).

Establishing himself in Kannada cinema

Alongside his work in parallel cinema, Nag established himself as a leading actor in mainstream Kannada cinema.

One of his significant early films was G.V. Iyer's Hamsageethe (1975), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada.

During the 1970s and 1980s, films such as Bayalu Daari, Kanneshwara Rama, Naa Ninna Bidalaare, Chandanada Gombe and Benkiya Bale further strengthened his position in Kannada cinema.

His pairing with actress Lakshmi was particularly popular, with the two appearing together in more than 25 films.

Known for his naturalistic and understated acting style, Nag often portrayed ordinary and middle-class characters, distinguishing himself from the larger-than-life style associated with many mainstream heroes of the period.

Anant Nag in Ankur. Photo: Screen-grab

Working with brother Shankar Nag and Malgudi Days

Anant Nag also shared a significant professional association with his younger brother, actor and filmmaker Shankar Nag.

The brothers worked together on films including Minchina Ota, Janma Janmada Anubandha, Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige and Accident.

Their collaboration extended to television when Shankar Nag directed the popular 1987 series Malgudi Days, based on R.K. Narayan's stories. Anant Nag also appeared in the series.

From leading man to character actor

Nag successfully reinvented himself over the course of his career. In the 1990s, he became particularly popular for his comic performances in films such as Ganeshana Maduve (1990) and Gauri Ganesha (1991).

He subsequently embraced a wider range of supporting and character roles, continuing to move between comedy, drama and serious roles.

Films such as Mungaru Male (2006), Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016), Raajakumara (2017) and Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai (2018) introduced his work to newer generations.

His performance as an Alzheimer's patient in Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu was particularly acclaimed.

Anant Nag and Rekha in a romantic track from Mangalsutra. Photo: Screen-grab

KGF and a new generation of audiences

Nag later appeared in the blockbuster K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), bringing his work to a new generation of audiences and expanding his visibility among pan-Indian viewers.

Over his long career, Nag has worked across Kannada, Hindi and several other Indian-language film industries, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi cinema, apart from English-language projects.

His filmography includes more than 300 appearances, with exact counts varying depending on how individual credits are classified.

A career honoured with India's highest film honour

From his beginnings in theatre to his emergence as one of Kannada cinema's most recognisable actors, Anant Nag has built a career spanning parallel cinema, mainstream films, television, comedy and character-driven roles.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 marks the latest and among the highest recognitions of his contribution to Indian cinema.