Bengaluru, Sept. 17 -- Veteran actor Anant Nag has dedicated the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 to the people of Karnataka, crediting the state's filmmakers, audiences and cultural environment for shaping his more than five-decade career.

The actor said the opportunities and atmosphere he found in Karnataka allowed him to pursue both art films and commercial cinema in ways he felt would not have been possible elsewhere in India.

Speaking about the honour, Nag said he was grateful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted about the recognition. He then turned his attention to the role Karnataka played in his journey.

"All this was possible because of Karnataka and Karnataka only," Nag said he had dedicated the honour to Kar...