Wednesday Special: What does Anant Nag think about the Padma Awards

Anant Nag is back to work and resumed work with

Drishya 2

. He also will be shooting for his remaining portions in Gaalipata 2. The veteran has also signed on the new film

Abracadabra

. He says he likes it best when he is on the set. Simultaneously, there have been many

Kannadigas

wanting him to be bestowed upon with the

Padma

Award too.

As for the #AnantNagForPadma campaign that is going viral, he says, "I just feel overwhelmed by the goodwill, affection and regard they have for me on one hand, but I also did not expect this kind of a reaction from our people. Of course, I know that they appreciate my work. Though, they have often raised this question on social media, whenever the awards were announced and my wife used to show them to me. They would question why I wasn't awarded, but I would just laugh it away. Though, I am extremely grateful."

Quiz him if he ever felt that he was shortchanged by not being bestowed upon by this honour yet and Anant simply answers, "Right from the beginning, I have had no expectations. I was in politics. So, I thought perhaps that may be the reason. Though, over the last few years, when so many questions were raised on social media, their feelings for me were more gratifying than the award itself. At the same time, credit should go to the PM for bringing this out to the public realm. I have been following the

Padma awards

since I was young, and I would look up to the awardees. Though, the atmosphere did get vicious afterwards and there was lobbying and nepotism. Some were ignored totally."