AryaInIND at 01:11, 29 March 2026

2026-03-29T01:11:43Z

New page

{{short description|Indian actor and politician (born 1948)}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Anantnag]], a city in Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anant Nag
| image = Padma_Bhushan_Shri_Anant_Nag.jpg
| caption = Nag in 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1948|9|4}}
| birth_place = [[Shirali]], [[Mysore State]], [[Dominion of India]]<br>(present-day [[Karnataka]], India)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|politician}}
| years_active = 1973–present
| works = [[Anant Nag filmography|Full list]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Gayatri (actress)|Gayatri]]|1987}}
| family = [[Shankar Nag]] (brother) <br /> [[Arundathi Nag]] (sister-in-law)
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2025)<br/>[[Rajyotsava Award]] (2007)
| party = [[Janata Dal (Secular)]]
}}

'''Anant Nagarkatte''' (born 4 September 1948) is an Indian actor whose predominant contribution has been in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada cinema]].<ref name="versatile">{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/233424/versatile-veteran.html|title=Versatile Veteran|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=10 March 2012}}</ref> He has acted in over 300 films which include over 250 Kannada films and few films in [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Malayalam]] and [[English language|English]] languages.<ref name="Nag">{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/cinema/films-were-bolder-in-the-past/article5184996.ece|title=Films were bolder in the past|date=October 2013|publisher=Frontline|access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Water">{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/851850/an-actor-should-be-like-water-ego-less-an-interview-with-kannada-icon-anant-nag|title='An actor should be like water, ego-less':An interview with Kannada icon Anant Nag|publisher=Scroll|date=8 October 2017}}</ref> He has featured in [[theatre|theatre plays]], [[parallel cinema]]<ref name="Water" /> and [[television show]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/anant-nag-returns-to-small-screen/article4900193.ece|title=Anant Nag returns to small screen|work=The Hindu|date=10 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="versatile" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/sandalwood/070916/a-brilliant-nagotiator.html|title=A brilliant 'NAG'otiator|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=7 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="supporting">{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/an-ode-to-the-supporting-actor-826628.html|title=An ode to the supporting actor|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=17 April 2020}}</ref>

Nag made his feature film debut through ''Sankalpa'' (1973) directed by Prof. P.V Nanjaraj Urs. Sankalpa went on to win seven state awards in Karnataka. His foray into parallel cinema was through [[Shyam Benegal]]'s ''[[Ankur (film)|Ankur]]'' (1974).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ankur-1974/article3927837.ece|title=Ankur (1974)|work=The Hindu|date=23 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/ht-brunch-cover-story-over-the-top-and-on-point-with-shyam-benegal/story-TnqUIfItpAGhf8Nl3c3dUJ.html|title=HT Brunch Cover Story: Over the top and on point with Shyam Benegal|work=Hindustan Times|date=11 October 2019}}</ref> His commercially successful Kannada films have been ''[[Bayalu Daari]]'' (1976), ''[[Kanneshwara Rama]]'' (1977), ''[[Naa Ninna Bidalaare]]'' (1979), ''[[Chandanada Gombe]]'' (1979), ''[[Benkiya Bale]]'' (1983), [[Hendthighelbedi|''Hendthige Helbedi'']] (1989), ''[[Ganeshana Maduve]]'' (1990), [[Gauri Ganesha|''Gowri Ganesha'']] (1991), ''[[Mungaru Male]]'' (2006), ''[[Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu]]'' (2016), ''[[Raajakumara]]'' (2017), ''[[Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai]]'' (2018), ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 1]]'' (2018), ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 2]]'' (2022) and ''[[Gaalipata 2]]'' (2022).<ref name="Water" />

He acted in ''[[Malgudi Days (TV series)|Malgudi Days]]'', a [[Doordarshan]] aired<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/features/malgudi-days-to-karamchand-the-doordarshan-classics-that-deserve-a-lockdown-comeback/408984/|publisher=The Print|title=Malgudi Days to Karamchand – the Doordarshan classics that deserve a lockdown comeback|date=25 April 2020}}</ref> television series based on the stories of [[R. K. Narayan]]. He is a recipient of six [[Filmfare Awards South]] and five [[Karnataka State Film Awards]]. He is the elder brother of [[Film director|director]] and actor [[Shankar Nag]].

Anant was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian award, in 2025 by the Government of India.<ref name="Padma Awards 2025">{{cite news|title=Padma Awards 2025|url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf|accessdate=26 January 2025|work=|publisher=Ministry Of Home Affairs|date=25 January 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126163202/https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf|archivedate=26 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="IE_padmaShri">{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/balakrishna-ajith-shekhar-kapur-shobana-honoured-with-padman-bhushan-arijit-singh-ricky-kej-conferred-with-padma-shri-9799275/|title=Balakrishna, Ajith, Shekhar Kapur, Shobana honoured with Padman Bhushan, Arijit Singh, Ricky Kej conferred with Padma Shri |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=25 January 2025 |date=25 January 2025}}</ref>

==Early life==
Anant Nag was born in a [[Konkani language|Konkani]]-speaking family on 4 September 1948 to Anandi and Sadanand Nagarkatte in [[Shirali]], [[Bhatkal]] taluk, [[Uttara Kannada district]], [[Karnataka]], where he spent most of his childhood.<ref name="birth">{{cite news |title= About real life and reel lives |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/About-real-life-and-reel-lives/articleshow/6765949.cms |newspaper= The Times of India|date= October 2010 |access-date= 9 March 2014}}</ref> He has an elder sister, Shyamala and his younger brother was [[Shankar Nag]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/514668/a-stroll-down-memory-lane.html|title=A stroll down memory lane|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=30 November 2015}}</ref>

Nag did his early schooling in a [[Catholic school]] in Ajjarkad, [[Udupi district|Udupi]], Ananda Ashrama in [[Dakshina Kannada]] and [[Chitrapur Math]] in [[Uttara Kannada]] district of the erstwhile Mysore state (now Karnataka).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://starofmysore.com/i-used-to-spin-charakha-daily-for-an-hour-at-ananda-ashram-anant-nag/|title=I used to spin charakha daily for an hour at Ananda Ashram: Anant Nag|publisher=Star of Mysore|date=15 February 2020}}</ref> In class 9th standard, he was sent to [[Mumbai]] for further study.<ref name="birth"/> He attempted to join the armed services but was rejected by the [[Indian Army|Army]] for being underweight and by the [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] for poor eyesight.<ref name = "tougher">{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/sandalwood/040320/anant-nag-being-a-politician-is-tougher-than-acting-a-politician.html|title=Anant Nag: Being a politician is tougher than acting a politician|date=4 March 2020|work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> He was drawn towards the theatre movement of Mumbai and he was selected to act in Konkani, Kannada and Marathi-language plays which he did until he turned 22.<ref name="Nag" />

==Career==

===Theatre===
Anant Nag began his career with Kannada and Konkani plays in Mumbai. He went on to work in plays of [[Satyadev Dubey]], [[Girish Karnad]] and [[Amol Palekar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/i-was-influenced-by-english-cinema-and-absurd-plays-anant-nag/article30975399.ece|title=I was influenced by English cinema and absurd plays: Anant Nag |work=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/%E2%80%98I-am-an-untrained-actor%E2%80%99/article14389915.ece|title=I am an untrained actor|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 June 2016}}</ref> For a period of about five years, he acted in [[Konkani language|Konkani]], Kannada, Marathi and Hindi plays.<ref name="Water" />

===Film and television===
Following a theatre career in Mumbai, Nag made his film debut with ''Sankalpa'', a 1973 Kannada film. He then grew to become a core part of parallel cinema, which was at its peak in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Water" /> Being introduced to director [[Shyam Benegal]] by theatre director Satyadev Dubey,<ref name="Water" /> he starred in six of Benegal's films: ''[[Ankur (film)|Ankur]]'' (1974), ''[[Nishant (film)|Nishant]]'' (1975), ''[[Manthan]]'' (1976), ''[[Bhumika (film)|Bhumika]]'' (1978), ''[[Kondura]]'' (1978) and ''[[Kalyug (1981 film)|Kalyug]]'' (1981).

Nag's arrival into Kannada films was through [[G. V. Iyer]]'s ''[[Hamsageethe]]'' (1975), in which he played the role of a disciple of [[carnatic music|carnatic]] singing. The film went on to win the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]].<ref name="iffi">{{cite web |title= 23rd National Film Awards |url= http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=23NFA.pdf |website= iffi.nic.in |access-date= 9 March 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110526091043/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=23NFA.pdf |archive-date= 26 May 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Nag appeared in thirteen episodes of the television series, ''[[Malgudi Days (TV series)|Malgudi Days]]'', an adaptation of [[R. K. Narayan]]'s [[Malgudi Days (short story collection)|short stories of the same name]], directed by his brother Shankar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/how-shankar-nags-malgudi-days-came-to-life-835811.html|title=How Shankar Nag's Malgudi Days came to life|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=10 May 2020}}</ref>

Nag's portrayal of an [[Alzheimer|Alzheimer's]] patient in ''[[Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu]]'' (2016) has received critical acclaim and contributed to making this experimental film, a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Godhi-Banna-Sadharana-Mykattu-Out-to-steal-your-heart/article14382559.ece|work=The Hindu|title=Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu: Out to steal your heart|date=3 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/movie-review-godhi-banna-sadharana-maikattu-13709.html|publisher=Filmfare|title=Movie Review: Godhi Banna Sadharana Maikattu|date=6 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Four-Kannada-experiments-run-to-packed-houses/article14411491.ece|work=The Hindu|title=Four Kannada experiments run to packed houses|date=8 June 2016}}</ref> In the comedy-drama ''[[Gaalipata 2]]'' (2022), he played Kishore, a Kannada-language professor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kannada industry has looked after me very well: Anant Nag |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2022/aug/18/kannada-industry-has-looked-after-me-very-well-anant-nag-2488535.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 August 2022 |date=18 August 2022}}</ref> Muralidhara Khajane of ''[[The Hindu]]'' felt his "fantastic portrayal as a teacher and Ganesh's sentimental turn are the hallmarks of this film".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Khajane |first1=Muralidhara |title=‘Gaalipata 2’ movie review: An entertaining and emotional tale of friendship |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/gaalipata-2-movie-review-an-entertaining-and-emotional-tale-of-friendship/article65761565.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=20 August 2022 |language=en-IN |date=12 August 2022}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Nag married [[Gayatri (actress)|Gayatri]] on 9 April 1987.<ref name="birth" />

==Political career==
Nag was an MLC, [[MLA]] and a minister in the [[J. H. Patel]] government. He served as Bangalore Urban Development minister.<ref name="tougher" />
In [[2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2004]], he unsuccessfully contested the [[Chamrajpet Assembly constituency|Chamarajpet constituency]], [[Bangalore]] [[Deliberative assembly|assembly]] election from [[Janata Dal (Secular)]]. He was pitched against then [[Chief minister|Chief Minister]] of Karnataka, [[S. M. Krishna]] from the [[Indian National Congress]] and fellow actor [[Mukhyamantri Chandru]] from [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.in/karnataka/assembly-constituencies/chamrajpet.html|title=Chamrajpet Election and Results 2018, Candidate list, Winner, Runner-up, Current MLA and Previous MLAs|website=Elections in India}}</ref> On 22 February 2023 [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka|BJP, Karnataka]] state unit organised a programme in the presence of state president [[Nalin Kumar Kateel]]
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publictv.in/actor-anant-nag-officially-joined-bjp-today/|title=Actor Anant Nag will join BJP|work=Public TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newswaali.com/kgf-actor-anant-nag-will-join-bjp-many-big-leaders-will-be-present-karnata-news-famous-kgf-actor-anant-nag-will-join-bjp-today-news-waali/|title=KGF actor Anant Nag is joining BJP on the presence of many big leaders|work=News Waali}}</ref> where Anant Nag was said to join BJP, but he didn't attend the programme and later the programme was cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publictv.in/actor-anant-nag-deffered-bjp-party-joining-in-bengaluru/|title=Actor Anant Nag Deffered BJP joining in Bengaluru|work=Public TV}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Anant Nag filmography}}

==Awards==
{{BLP sources section|date= January 2023}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Award
!Outcome
!Ref
|-
|2025
|[[Padma Bhushan]]
|Won
|
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ [[Karnataka State Film Awards]]
!Year !!Award type !! Film !! Ref(s)
|-
| 1979–80 || rowspan="4" | [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] || ''[[Minchina Ota (1980 film)|Minchina Ota]]'' ||
|-
| 1985–86 || ''[[Hosa Neeru]]'' ||
|-
| 1987–88 ||''[[Avasthe]]'' ||
|-
| 1994–95 || ''Gangavva Gangamayi'' ||
|-
| 2011–12 || [[Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award]] || Lifetime Achievement ||
<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/kannada/news-interviews/Karnataka-State-Film-Awards-2010-11-winners/articleshow/18966690.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518070059/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-14/news-interviews/37712086_1_second-best-film-basanth-kumar-patil-sunil-kumar-desai |url-status=live |archive-date=18 May 2013 |title=Karnataka State Film Awards 2010–11 winners |date=14 March 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 March 2013}}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ [[Filmfare Awards South]]
!Year !!Award type !! Film !! Result
|-
| 1977 || [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu|Best Actor (Telugu)]] || ''Prema Lekhalu'' || {{nom}}
|-
| 1979 || rowspan="6" | [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada|Best Actor (Kannada)]] || ''[[Naa Ninna Bidalaare]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Bara (1982 film)|Bara]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Hendthighelbedi]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
| 1990 || ''Udbhava'' || {{Won}}
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Gauri Ganesha]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareKannadaBestActorActress|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170208061710/https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareKannadaBestActorActress|url-status=dead|title=39th Annual Filmfare Kannada Best Actor Actress : santosh : Free Down…|date=8 February 2017|archive-date=8 February 2017|website=archive.org}}</ref> || {{Won}}
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008 || rowspan="3" | [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada|Best Supporting Actor (Kannada)]] || ''[[Taj Mahal (2008 film)|Tajmahal]]'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| ''[[Aramane]]'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2015 || | ''[[Vaastu Prakaara]]'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Rotten-tomatoes-person|anant_nag}}
*{{IMDb name|0619047}}
* [https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/ananth-nag.html Anant Nag on Filmibeat.com]
{{Padma Bhushan Award Recipients 2020–2029|state=collapsed}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{FilmfareKannadaBestActor}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nag, Anant}}
[[Category:Politicians from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Indian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:People from Uttara Kannada]]
[[Category:Kannada male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2007]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners]]

Anant Nag - Revision history

AryaInIND at 01:11, 29 March 2026