# Anant Nag credits Modi for removing nepotism from Phalke award 2026-09-17T05:22:01+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Veteran actor Anant Nag has been named the 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient, India's highest film honour. In interviews with PTI and India Today, Nag thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Modi removed nepotism and favouritism from the award process by inviting public recommendations. Nag dedicated the award to the people of Karnataka and said Modi's congratulatory tweet felt "as good as getting two Phalke Awards." The 78-year-old actor has worked in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi. He is the third Kannadiga to win the award, after Dr Rajkumar (1995) and cinematographer VK Murthy (2008). Nag will be conferred the honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22. He has not yet confirmed his attendance. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Times Now and India Today both lead on Anant Nag's praise for PM Modi, framing the award as a break from past nepotism and a personal victory for Modi. Hindustan Times leads on the coincidences around Nag's career and the film history, quoting Modi's congratulatory post but not the actor's political remarks. The critical sources overstate Nag's attribution of change to Modi alone, the neutral source omits that angle entirely, giving a fuller career portrait. The balanced take is that Nag thanked Modi for recommending his name, but the selection committee, not the PM, confers the award. The ceremony on 22 September in Kevadia is the next concrete event to watch. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com (pro government) Leads with Nag praising Modi for removing nepotism, frames award as Modi's personal reform - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Leads with career coincidences and film history, quotes Modi but omits Nag's political remarks - indiatoday.in (pro government) Leads with Nag calling Phalke Award 'jewel in crown' of Karnataka, praising Modi's governance Tags: Anant Nag, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Kannada cinema, Narendra Modi, National Film Awards Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/anant-nag-says-modi-ended-nepotism-in-phalke-awards/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/anant-nag-says-modi-ended-nepotism-in-phalke-awards/#story-in-brief