India, Sept. 24 -- R andeep Hooda is already looking beyond his first National Award as a director. Fresh off winning Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, he says the honour has given him "new wings" to do more behind the camera. President Droupadi Murmu presented him the award at the 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on Tuesday. "I am and always will be an actor first. Though I have not received much recognition as an actor in terms of awards of any kind, the audience for whom the work is meant has always generously showered me with love and admiration. To be recognised for my craft in my very first attempt as a director is very encouraging. It has given me new wings to do more of it in the future," he tells us. The win was extra special for Hooda, who recently became a father, with his wife, Lin Laishram, and his father, Ranbir Hooda, by his side. "It is special that I'm here not only as Randeep Hooda alone, but also as Nyomica's father, with my own father, Ranbir Hooda in attendance. And yes, I'm also here as Lin's husband as well, who is by my side." Videos from the ceremony also showed Hooda walking up to hug Lin and his father after receiving the honour. This year also marked the first time the National Film Awards ceremony was held outside Delhi. "It's my first one so I wouldn't know the difference between the feeling of receiving one traditionally and the new efforts to take it across the whole country. Though having it at the Statue of Unity is not bereft of its symbolism," he shares. Having acted in, co-written and directed Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, Hooda says "direction demanded the most" from him, while "writing was most liberating because it is a limitless endeavour". Acting, he adds, "became a bit harder than usual because I had to tell the whole story, not just mine as a character"....