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CINEMA

Anant Nag: Five Decades of Kannada Cinema, and a Detour Through Benegal

A leading man of Kannada cinema since the 1970s, a star of Shyam Benegal's parallel films in Hindi, Shankar Nag's elder brother, and the unmistakable voice that narrates KGF.

QUICK ANSWER

  • Anant Nag is a Kannada film actor, born in 1948, with a career spanning five decades.
  • He acted in Shyam Benegal's Ankur, Nishant, Manthan and Bhumika, and in Kannada classics such as Ganeshana Maduve.
  • He is the brother of Shankar Nag and served as a minister in Karnataka in the 1990s.
  • Anant Nag received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in 2025.
Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7 Tariq Sallam September 23, 2026 • 2 min read • Updated October 17, 2026
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A grand old cinema hall with red velvet seats, a vintage film projector and reels, and a black-and-white film on screen

Anant Nag has acted in Kannada cinema for more than five decades.

“He could make a comedy feel sophisticated and a drama feel effortless.”

• On Anant Nag's range

Anant Nag is a Kannada film actor whose career spans more than five decades, from art cinema with Shyam Benegal in the 1970s to popular Kannada comedies and dramas and, later, the narrator of KGF. The elder brother of Shankar Nag, he is known for his range, his light comic touch and his natural screen presence. He also served as a minister in the Karnataka government in the 1990s. He received the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

For Bengaluru audiences he is the reliable, intelligent star of generations of films. This profile keeps to the well-documented record.

Quick Information

Art cinema, family comedies, a spell in politics and a narration that made KGF sound like an epic. Very few actors manage one of those.

Born
September 4, 1948
Brother
Shankar Nag
Hindi parallel cinema
Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika with Shyam Benegal
Kannada classics
Bayalu Daari, Chandanada Gombe, Ganeshana Maduve, Gauri Ganesha
Later work
Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016), narrator in KGF
Politics
Served as a minister in Karnataka in the 1990s
One memorable fact
He appeared in some of Shyam Benegal's earliest and best-known films
Honour
Padma Bhushan, 2025

What Are Anant Nag's Best Films?

In Kannada, Bayalu Daari, Chandanada Gombe, Ganeshana Maduve and Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu. In Hindi, his work with Shyam Benegal in Ankur, Nishant and Manthan.

What Was Anant Nag's Role in KGF?

He narrated the story in KGF Chapter 1, and his voice became one of the most recognisable elements of the film.

A LESSER-KNOWN FACT

He and Shankar Nag worked together on several films, including Minchina Ota, Shankar's first film as director.

Why Does Anant Nag Belong in People of Bangalore?

THEIR BANGALORE CONNECTION

He has spent his career at the heart of Bengaluru's Kannada film industry and remains one of its most respected actors.

FAQs

Who is Anant Nag?

A leading Kannada film actor with a career of more than five decades.

Is Anant Nag Shankar Nag's brother?

Yes, he is Shankar Nag's elder brother.

Did Anant Nag act in Hindi films?

Yes, including Shyam Benegal's Ankur, Nishant and Manthan.

Was Anant Nag in KGF?

Yes, as the narrator in KGF Chapter 1.

A Kannada Film Fan?

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Same city, new stories, always.

Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7

Tariq Sallam

FOUNDER, THE CITY 24/7

placeBangalore calendar_monthSince 1991 groupsPeople. Places. Possibilities.

Tariq Sallam is the founder of The City 24/7, a platform dedicated to celebrating everything Bangalore. Having lived in the city since 1991, he has witnessed its remarkable journey from a laid-back Garden City to one of India’s most dynamic and innovative cities.

Passionate about its people, businesses, neighbourhoods, food, culture and hidden gems, Tariq believes every corner of Bangalore has a story worth telling. When he’s not writing or interviewing inspiring Bangaloreans, you’ll find him exploring the city. And through The City 24/7, he invites you to discover Bangalore with him, one story at a time.

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