Actor Pankaj Tripathi will receive the 'Artist of Distinction' honour at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026. The film festival will be running from August 13 to 23.
Expressing his gratitude, Pankaj said, “It is deeply humbling. As an actor, I have always believed that stories have the extraordinary power to transcend boundaries, connect hearts and bring people closer, irrespective of language or geography. To have my journey be recognised on an international platform like IFFM is truly special and incredibly meaningful. Every milestone in my career has been possible because of the trust and collaboration of filmmakers, writers, directors, fellow actors, technicians and, above all, the audiences who have embraced my work with so much love. This recognition belongs as much to them as it does to me.”
He added, “What makes this honour even more memorable is that I will be attending the festival in person for the very first time. I am looking forward to interacting with audiences in Australia, celebrating the incredible journey of Indian cinema, and sharing this moment with fellow artists from across the industry. My heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for this honour. It is something I will always cherish."
Mitu Bowmick Lange, the director of IFFM, said, “Pankaj Tripathi is one of the finest actors of our generation, an artist whose performances transcend language, geography and culture. His extraordinary ability to bring authenticity, empathy and quiet power to every character has made him one of the most respected voices in Indian cinema today. It is our absolute privilege to honour him with the 'Artist of Distinction' Award at IFFM. This recognition celebrates not only his remarkable body of work but also his immense contribution to storytelling that resonates with audiences across the world.”
Pankaj is known for his acclaimed performances in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) series, Masaan (2015), Newton (2017), Stree (2018) and Mirzapur (2018), among others.