# Pankaj Tripathi to receive Victoria’s inaugural Artist of Distinction Award 2026-08-07T00:45:41+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Actor Pankaj Tripathi will receive the inaugural Artist of Distinction Award from the State Government of Victoria at this year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in Australia. In an interview with Hindustan Times, the two-time National Film Award winner said international recognition was never his ambition when he left his village in 1991. He wanted people in his village and later across Bihar to know his work. Tripathi also recalled an early moment of encouragement. After his performance at the Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Delhi around 1999 or 2000, a Hindustan review named him among the festival’s five best actors and said he had immense potential. He said the recognition made him feel he was on the right track. Tripathi added that he now tries to maintain balance, without allowing praise or criticism to overwhelm him. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: Bollywood, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Pankaj Tripathi, theatre, Victoria award Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/pankaj-tripathi-to-receive-victorias-inaugural-artist-of-distinction-award/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/pankaj-tripathi-to-receive-victorias-inaugural-artist-of-distinction-award/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.