Anant Nag Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Veteran actor Anant Nag of Malgudi Days fame was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in the field of cinema, on Tuesday at the National Film Awards 2026.

At 78, Anant Nag was honoured with the prestigious award. The ceremony was held at Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026.

Anant Nag’s Speech On Being Honoured With The Dadasaheb Phalke Award

To celebrate Anant Nag, the jury presented a special short film highlighting his illustrious career and unparalleled contribution to television and Indian cinema. This tribute showcased his remarkable journey and legacy.

Anant Nag addressed the audience after receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He said, “It’s a great honour to be here with you and I’m trying to digest the majesty of this function. I have not attended many such gatherings, but I’m very happy to be with you all today. 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.” (UPDATED ON 22ND SEPTEMBER 2026)