India, Aug. 6 -- In a long and storied career, Pankaj Tripathi has received various accolades, including two National Film Awards. His next accolade, though, comes from across the seven seas. The actor will be conferred with the inaugural Artist of Distinction Award by the State Government of Victoria at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in Australia this year. Before flying out for the festival, the acclaimed actor spoke to Hindustan Times about the honour and how it neatly ties in with his first validation, which came through the HT group itself.

Pankaj admits that getting an international honour was never on his bucket list. "When I left my village in '91, my only wish was that my village and a few neighbouring ones know my name. ...