Anant Nagarkatte, popularly known as Anant Nag, is a veteran Indian actor with a prolific career spanning over five decades. He began his journey in theatre in Mumbai, performing in Konkani, Kannada, Marathi, and Hindi plays. He made his feature film debut with the Kannada film 'Sankalpa' in 1973. Nag quickly became a prominent figure in the parallel cinema movement of the 1970s and 1980s, collaborating with renowned director Shyam Benegal on several acclaimed Hindi films. Simultaneously, he made significant contributions to Kannada cinema, starring in over 250 films across various genres and languages including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, and English. His memorable performances include roles in 'Hamsageethe', 'Naa Ninna Bidalaare', 'Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu', and the blockbuster 'K.G.F: Chapter 1'. He gained widespread popularity for his role in the Doordarshan television series 'Malgudi Days', directed by his younger brother, late actor Shankar Nag. Beyond acting, Anant Nag also ventured into politics, serving as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC), a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (MLA), and a Minister of State attached to the Chief Minister. He is a recipient of six Filmfare Awards South and five Karnataka State Film Awards, and is slated to receive the Padma Bhushan in 2025 for his contributions to Indian cinema.