Rosenberg presents membership card to Kapoor (Getty Images)

His delivery of the phrase “Who wants to be a millionaire?” was echoed around the globe shortly after the phenomenon of Slumdog Millionaire dazzled moviegoers during the winter season. On Thursday evening, he was asked, by the Screen Actors Guild President, Alan Rosenberg: “Who wants to be a member?” 

Moments before Kapoor made his debut as a producer with the premiere of the English version of Gandhi, My Father, Rosenberg welcomed the Bollywood star with open arms and a 75th anniversary commemorative card to boot.

“It’s an honor to welcome Anil to SAG,” Rosenberg told Buzzine at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. “We are the world’s most powerful union for entertainers. He has made many contributions to Indian cinema, and we look forward to him continuing to make those contributions here in Hollywood.”

While he was introduced to Hollywood audiences with his role as the game show host in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Kapoor has been a fixture in Bollywood films since 1979, with six award-winning performances and appearing in as many as eight films in one calendar year. Prior to his role as Prem Kumar in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Kapoor has appeared in 153 Indian films.

In a brief reception and ceremony just prior to the United States premiere of Gandhi, My Father, Rosenberg introduced Kapoor to his new Hollywood friends, adding the invitation to join the labor union for Hollywood actors was assured when the 49-year-old Bollywood actor joined the cast of Fox’s 24.

As part of the welcoming, Rosenberg presented Kapoor with a SAG cap and a valet key in addition to his commemorative membership card.

“This has been a great journey and I just hope everyone enjoys this movie,” Kapoor said about joining SAG and about the impending screening of Gandhi, My Father, which started just a few minutes after he addressed the audience in Theater 10 of Hollywood’s Arclight Theaters. “It’s an honor to become a member of SAG.”

Last month, it was announced Kapoor would join the cast of 24 – which will be in its eighth season — as a Middle Eastern leader visiting the United States on a peace-keeping mission. It will be his first-ever role in American television.