Rishab Shetty congratulated veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag after he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, recalling how he grew up watching the legendary actor on television before eventually getting the opportunity to direct him.
Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty paid an emotional tribute to veteran actor Anant Nag following the latter’s receipt of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honour on Anant Nag at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on September 22.
For Rishab, the moment carried a personal significance. The filmmaker recalled watching Anant Nag on television as a child and later finding himself in the position of directing an actor he had admired for years.
Rishab Shetty Recalls Watching Anant Nag as a Child
Rishab shared his tribute in Kannada, reflecting on the journey from being a young viewer watching Anant Nag’s performances to eventually working with him professionally.
Recalling his childhood, Rishab wrote that he used to sit on the floor and watch Anant Nag on television.
He described getting the opportunity to direct his childhood favourite as a “great honour”.
The filmmaker also expressed happiness at seeing Anant Nag receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the President, describing the occasion as a proud moment for the actor’s admirers.
Rishab later shared an English message congratulating the veteran star.
“Hearty Congratulations to Padma Bhushan Sri Anant Nag Sir on receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Your natural performances, simplicity and love for cinema have inspired generations, including many of us. Truly happy and proud to see you receive this honour, Sir.”
Rishab and Anant Nag Worked Together in Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shale
The tribute also has a direct connection to Rishab’s own filmmaking journey.
Rishab Shetty directed ** Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai **, the 2018 Kannada film featuring Anant Nag in a prominent role.
The film centres on the students and teachers of a Kannada-medium school in Kasaragod, Kerala, and combines elements of school life, education and the challenges surrounding the institution.
The film went on to receive the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada, adding to Rishab’s growing reputation as a filmmaker.
For Rishab, working with Anant Nag therefore represented more than a professional collaboration. It brought together his childhood admiration for the veteran actor and his later career as a director.
Anant Nag Receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.
The veteran actor’s career spans more than five decades, during which he has worked extensively in Kannada cinema while also appearing in films across other Indian languages.
Known for his naturalistic performances and long association with Kannada cinema, Anant Nag has built a body of work spanning multiple generations of filmmakers and actors.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award represents another major milestone in that career and adds India’s highest cinematic honour to his list of recognitions.
Rishab Shetty’s Tribute Highlights a Full-Circle Moment
Rishab’s message offered a glimpse into the personal significance of the award ceremony.
The actor-filmmaker began as a young admirer watching Anant Nag’s performances at home. Years later, he directed the same actor in a National Award-winning Kannada film.
His tribute following Anant Nag’s Dadasaheb Phalke honour therefore reflected both professional respect and a sense of a childhood dream coming full circle.