On the occasion, the 39-year-old "Main Aur Charles" actor, also shared his memories of the time hespent asan international student in the country.
The members of a non profitorganization South Asian Public Affairs Council(SAPAC) honoured the visitingactor with an achievement award for making his mark in the film industry.
Receiving the award,Hooda said he got his first break in the Bollywood industrybecause of his Australian accent.
The actor whomade his debut as an NRI from Australiain Mira Nair's film"Monsoon Wedding" in 2001, said he was very happy to be back in the country after 15 years.
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"I think I learned more about acting when I drove cabs in the night. ...You, infact, get very nice view into people's lives," he said
Presenting the award to the actor,Parliamentary Secretary for tourism, major events and regional Victoria, Danielle Green, said "Indians were thefastest growing community in the state and were settling very well."
At the event,Hooda alsoformally launched a non profit organisation 'Nobody Dies Hungry' founded by anAustralian Indian Aloke Kumar.