Anant Nag is an Indian actor and occasional film producer who appears as an actor in predominantly in Kannada films and a few Hindi and Telugu films. In a career spanning over 5 decades, he has appeared in over 270 films. After having had a successful theatre career, he made his debut in P. V. Nanjaraja Urs' Kannada film Sankalpa, and Shyam Benegal's Dakhani film Ankur, with the former seeing theatrical release first, in 1973, and won multiple awards at the 1972–73 Karnataka State Film Awards. In G. V. Iyer's 1975 film Hamsageethe, he played the role of Bhairavi Venkatasubbiah, a performance that won critical praise, and the film was awarded the Best Feature Film in Kannada at the 23rd National Film Awards.
Nag went on to appear as a parallel lead alongside leading actors during the time such as Ambareesh and Rajinikanth in the second half of the 1970s. The year 1980 saw the first collaboration of his with his brother Shankar Nag, who appeared as a parallel lead and the director of Minchina Ota. The former's performance won him his first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor. They further worked together in the latter's directorial films Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige (1985) and Accident (1985). The brothers worked together for the last time in Shankar's 1987 directorial hugely popular television series Malgudi Days, based on a collection of short stories of the same name by R. K. Narayan, in 1987 that aired on Doordarshan. Nag also became known for his collaboration with Benegal following Ankur in films such as Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Kondura (1978) and Kalyug (1981). The lead pair of Nag and actress Lakshmi became widely popular in the 1970s and 1980s after they appeared in popular films such as Chandanada Gombe (1979), Naa Ninna Bidalaare (1979) and Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba (1984) among many others. His performances in Hosa Neeru (1986), Avasthe (1987) and Gangavva Gangamayi (1994) won him three more Best Actor awards at the Karnataka State Film Awards. The decade of 1990s saw him appearing in comic roles and established this image of his with films such as Ganeshana Maduve (1990), Golmaal Radhakrishna (1990), Gauri Ganesha (1991). His second stint in television came in the 2002 Kannada soap opera Garva. He went on to appear in Preeti Illada Mele (2006), Chitte Hejje (2013), Nithyotsava (2013) and Lottery (2013).
In the second half of 1990s, Nag began appearing predominantly in supporting roles and this continued till K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018). The period saw him win multiple nominations and awards at various film awards including the Filmfare Awards South. In recognition of his contribution towards Kannada cinema, the Government of Karnataka honoured with the Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award in 2013.
Kannada films +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released Year Film Role Notes 1973 Sankalpa Dr. Raju 1975 Devara Kannu Dr. Anand Hamsageethe Bhairavi Venkatasubbiah 1976 Bayalu Daari Gopi 1977 Kanneshwara Rama Rama Anuroopa Shankar 1978 Kudure Mukha Mohan Maathu Tappada Maga Kumar Sandharbha CameoPremayana Mohan Madhura Sangama Dr. Prasanna 1979 Naa Ninna Bidalaare Krishna Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Chandanada Gombe Seetharamu Mutthu Ondu Mutthu Dr. Madhukar 1980 Minchina Ota Tony D'Souza Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor Dhairya Lakshmi Ramesh Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu Ajay Narada Vijaya Narada/Vijay Dual roles Janma Janmada Anubandha Avinash/Girish Achari Also co-producer, screenwriter Prema Jwala Vishwa 1981 Anupama Ananth Mareyada Haadu Anand Jeevakke Jeeva Sagar Shreeman Raghu 1982 Andada Aramane Shivaraj Baadada Hoo Prasad Mullina Gulabi Mohan Bara Sathish Chandra Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Nanna Devaru Gopal Hasyaratna Ramakrishna Tenali Ramakrishna Betthale Seve Dr. Paravappa 1983 Simhasana Arun Anveshane Shyam Benkiya Bale Narasimha Murthy Gayathri Maduve Ravi / Prakash Dual role Hosa Theerpu Gopal Rao Cameo appearance Kaamana Billu Chandra Bhakta Prahlada Narada Special appearancePhaniyamma Cameo appearance Ibbani Karagithu Varun Mududida Tavare Aralithu Chandrashekhar Chalisida Sagara Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige Mysore Matha's brother Cameo Makkale Devaru Anand 1984Sukha Samsarakke Hanneradu Sootragalu Kumar Premave Balina Belaku Madhava Prema Sakshi Shankar Ramapurada Ravana Hanumanth Rao Olave Baduku Harsha Also producer Olavu Moodidaga Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba Rajashekhar Also producer 1985 Accident Dharmadhikari Bidugadeya Bedi Shantaram Parameshi Prema Prasanga Papanna Shwetha Gulabi Rajiv Haavu Eni Aata Chandru Sedina Hakki Shankar Shabdagalu Shankar Hendthi Beku Hendthi Ramanand 1986 Hosa Neeru Krishnaprasad Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor Nenapina Doni Vasu Prema Jala Anand Aruna Raaga Sumesh Maneye Manthralaya Ramu 1987 Thayi Balarama Huli Hebbuli Lawyer Sriram Cameo appearance Agni Parva Chakravarthy Cameo appearance Avasthe Krishnappa Gowda Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor Kurukshetra Surya Athiratha Maharatha Chief Minister Vijaypratap Daiva Shakti Ramu 1988 Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara Inspector Mahesh Ranadheera Inspector Anand Shanthi Nivasa Varna Chakra Sri Venkateshwara Mahime Balondu Bhavageethe Mutthaide 1989Amaanusha Hendthighelbedi Anand Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Idu Saadhya Khyata / Karthik Kamplapur Gagana Raju 1990 Golmaal Radhakrishna Gopalakrishna Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru Surya Swarna Samsara Sridhar Challenge Gopalakrishna Gopalakrishna Udbhava Raghavendra "Raghanna" Rao Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Abhimanyu G. K. S Master Mathe Haditu Kogile Prasan Kumar Anantha Prema Ananth Ganeshana Maduve Ganesha Ivalentha Hendthi 1991 Maneli Ili Beedili Huli G. Purushotham Golmaal Part 2 Gopalakrishna Rollcall Ramakrishna Ramakrishna Gowri Ganesha Lambodara Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Hosa Mane Aliya Shanti Kranti Daddy Nagini 1992 Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda Krishna Vajrayudha Ondu Cinema Kathe Shyamsundar Kulkarni Shakti Yukti Marana Mrudanga Jhenkaara Ganesha SubramanyaGanesha 1993 Rajakeeya Lawyer Siddartha Aathanka Raghu Mangalya Bandhana Vijay Kadambari Nishkarsha Subhash, Police Commissioner 1994 Thooguve Krishnana Babu Yarigu Helbedi Govinda Gangavva Gangamayi Raaghappa Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor 1995 Beladingala Baale Revanth Nilukada Nakshatra Raja 1996 Samayakkondu Sullu Krishna Thaali Pooje Jagadish Nirbandha Chief Minister of Karnataka Jeevanadhi Harshavardhan Anuraga Spandana Raghuram 1997 Ganesha I Love U Ganesha 1999 Vishwa Vijay Naanenu Madlilla Ramachandra 2000 Preethse Vijay Tiger Padmini Krishna Leele Chamundi Yaarige Saluthe Sambala Venkatagiri Nan Hendthi Chennagidale Ramu's Boss Swalpa Adjust Madkolli Vasudeva Rao Andhra Hendthi 2001 Mathadana Ramalinge Gowda Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu Special Investigation Officer Asura Birla Bose Aunty Preethse Chitra Ramu's father Amma Neela Shivajja Chitte Shanthi's father Hello Narada 2002 Bhootayyana Makkalu Manase O Manase Manasella Neene Editor-in-chief of magazine Naanu Naane Hollywood Scientist K. D. Das 2003 Ananda Bangalore Bandh Chief Minister of Karnataka Lankesh Patrike Lankesh Preethi Prema Pranaya Dr. Chandrashekar Khushi Rajendra Prasad Chigurida Kanasu B. Sundar Rao Mouni Appanna Bhatta 2004 Sagari Prof. Ramachandra Mellusire Savigana Bidalaare Cameo Pakkadamane Hudugi Chakravarthy Santhosha Santhosh's father 2005 Encounter Dayanayak Prakash Hegde Nenapirali Ekanth's father Vishnu Sena Chief Minister of Karnataka 2006 Shree Uppi Dada M.B.B.S. Dr. Ashok Kashyap Neenello Naanalle Santosh's father Ravi Shastri Narayana Dixit Kallarali Hoovagi Basavadeva "Basayya" Mungaru Male Colonel Subbayya 2007 Sajni Ananth Murthy Nali Naliyutha Srinivasa Ninade Nenapu Snehanjali Ganesha Rao Bahadur Shivaraj Patil Ee Bandhana Narayana Ullagaddi 2008 Gaalipata Kodandaram Honganasu Yuga Yugagale Saagali Sashi's father Aramane Rajashekhar Aras Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada Super Jodi Neene Neene Rajasekhar Taj Mahal Narayan Murthy Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada Arjun Jayasimharaja Ganesha Matte Bandha Padmanabhacharya Ganga Kaveri Arjun's father 2009 Namyajamanru Retd. Col. Hoovayya Baaji Ghauttham Chellidaru Sampigeya Eshtu Naguthi Nagu Cheluvina Chilipili Huchchi Mr. Garagasa Parthasarthy 2010 Crazy Kutumba Mallanagowda Patil Premism Mr. Theertha Narayana Shastri Eradane Maduve Vishwanath Olave Vismaya Preethi Hangama Raj's father Pancharangi A wanderer Rame Gowda vs Krishna Reddy Subbanna 2011 Kalgejje Take It Easy Mathond Madhuvena Vishwanath Bhramara Paramathma Jayanth Naanalla Subash Chandra Prasad Bete Dhan Dhana Dhan 2012 Prarthane Jeevana Jokealli Dev Son of Mudde Gowda Mudde Gowda Dashamukha Venkataraman Breaking News Somashekhar 2013 Myna Cameo appearance Kaddipudi Sathya Murthy Googly Sharath's father Sakkare Col Cariappa Shravani Subramanya Seetharam 2014 Brahma Narayana Murthy Manada Mareyalli Bhujanga Shetty Athi Aparoopa Vishwanath Gajakesari Matadhipathi Jai Bajarang Bali 2015 Vaastu Prakaara Anantha Krishna Mrugashira Aatagara Retired judge Cameo appearanceNominated, IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role — Male Mr. Airavata Vitta Gowda Plus Jai First Rank Raju Professor The Plan Prema Pallakki 2016 Maduveya Mamatheya Kareyole Krishne Gowda Nominated, IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role — Male Parapancha Naalkane Also playback singer of "Kavanagalu" (11 shayaris) U the End A ...Re Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu Venkob Rao Filmfare Award for Best Actor – KannadaIIFA Utsavam Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role — Male Jaggu Dada Satyanarayan Santheyalli Nintha Kabira Kabir's Guru Cameo appearance Crazy Boy Cameo appearance Santhu Straight Forward Ananya's grandfather 2017 Raajakumara Vishwa Joshi March 22 Geologist Mugulu Nage Doctor Gowdru Hotel 2018 Hottegagi Genu Battegagi Shyam Prasad Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai Anantha Padmanabha P. Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) – KannadaK.G.F: Chapter 1 Anand Ingalagi Also narrator 2019 Aduva GombeKishanKavalu DaariMuthannaYaanaAyushman BhavaGopiWeekend2020India vs EnglandBhagiratha2021Drishya 2 Vijay Shankar2022Gaalipata 2Kishore Thimayya & ThimayyaThimayyaVijayanandB. G. SankeshwarMade in BengaluruPrahlad Hiranandani2023Mandala: The UFO Incident Ram Murthy / 'Nutcase' Murthy2025Rajadrohi Gowda
Other language films Year Film Role Language Notes 1974 Ankur Surya Hindi 1975 Nishant Anjaiya 1976 Manthan Chandavarkar 1977 Prema Lekhalu Madan Telugu 1978 Bhumika: The Role Rajan Hindi KonduraAnugraham Parashuram Rao HindiTelugu 1980 Gehrayee Nandu Hindi 1981 Mangalsutra Vijay Kalyug Bharat Raj 1983 Sookha Satish Chandra 1987 Swathi Thirunal Swathi Thirunal Malayalam 1991 Shanti Kranti Daddy TeluguHindi Nattukku Oru Nallavan Daddy Tamil 1992 Raat / Raatri Psychiatrist Hindi / Telugu 2001 Maya Arun Hindi 2003 Anahat King of Shravasthi Marathi Stumble Anand Rao English 2004 Sankharavam Chandra Rayudu Telugu Yuva Avinash Balachandran Hindi 2005 Balu Baba Telugu 2020Bheeshma Bheeshma
Television Year Show Role 1987 Malgudi Days (Hindi) Jagan (in Vendor of Sweets) 1997 Swarajnama Tipu Sultan 2002 Garva 2006–2008 Preeti Illada Mele Rajashekhara Hampapura 2013 Chitte Hejje 2013 Lottery 2013 Nithyotsava
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