Dadasaheb Phalke Award -2026

Why in News?

Veteran actor Anant Nag will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026.

Key Facts:

• Recipient: Anant Nag

• Field: Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema

• Career: Over 5 decades; acted in 300+ films across Kannada, Hindi and other South Indian languages.

• Film debut: Sankalpa (1973)

• Also associated with theatre and India’s parallel cinema movement.

• Notable works include Ankur, Nishant, Bhumika, Manthan, Kalyug and Malgudi Days.

• He will be the second Kannada artist to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award after Dr Rajkumar.

• He is also among the Indian personalities to have received both the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

• India’s highest honour in cinema.

• Instituted in 1969 in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, regarded as the pioneer of Indian cinema.

• Conferred annually for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

• The award is presented by the President of India at the National Film Awards ceremony.

Other Awards of Anant Nag:

• Padma Bhushan (2025) – Arts

• 5 Filmfare Awards

• 5 Karnataka State Best Actor Awards

• Karnataka Rajyotsava Award

• Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award

• Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award