Caught off guard by the sudden influx of congratulatory calls and the Prime Minister’s tweet , veteran actor Anant Nag admitted that the news caught him completely by surprise.
Tracing his roots back to the Mumbai stage, Anant, speaking to certain section of media, talked about his early days with the Kannada Kala Kendra. "I come from theatre, where I was just an actor," he said, recalling staging nearly 50 plays across five years. "I wrote, directed, acted, and even sold tickets on the streets with my friends. Moving from that setup to cinema was like taking a small boat from a river directly into an open ocean."
Drawing a comparison with the legendary Dr Rajkumar, Kannada cinema's first recipient, Anant Nag offered a humble analogy. He said, "To me, Rajkumar sir was like a giant vessel navigating that vast ocean. I was merely a small wooden boat trying to find its path. Today, this honour has come to me after him. I bow to him and accept it with utmost respect." He extended his gratitude across the board: "I thank all my theatre mentors, every director, producer, and co-star I have worked with over these decades. I stand here because of their collaboration and stories."
Anant Nag was clear that artistic validation has always come from the viewer. "My satisfaction depends entirely on whether the audience is satisfied," he noted, adding that public recognition demands a steady, self-imposed discipline in life: "Once you become a known face, you place boundaries on yourself. You are never completely unrestrained."
Remembering the grassroots support from fans and media during his earlier honours, Anant Nag signed off with heartfelt gratitude: "Just as the people of Karnataka campaigned and celebrated for me earlier, this honour belongs to them. I dedicate this award to Kannadigas and Karnataka."
