Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda was felicitatedby Melbourne based South Asian community members in Australia. The members of a non profit organization South Asian Public Affairs Council (SAPAC) honoured the visiting actor 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 industry because of his Australian accent. The actor who made 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.

A local councilor Oscar Yildiz also offered Hooda to become an ambassador of ‘Bully Zero Australia’ which the actor accepted. At the event,Hooda also formally launched a non profit organisation ‘Nobody Dies Hungry’ founded by an Australian Indian Aloke Kumar.

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.”

Did You Know?

• Apart from his reputation as an intense actor, Hooda is also considered one of the most attractive celebrities in India due to his rugged good looks.
• In 2010, he ranked 21st in The Times of India‘s annual list of the 50 most desirable men of 2009.
• In 2011, a global online survey conducted by Internet Movie Database (IMDb) ranked him seventh on its list of the “20 sexiest men in the world”.
• Hooda was in a relationship with former Miss Universe and actress Sushmita Sen from 2004 to 2006. He later said that ending their relationship changed his career.