As an actor, he has won laurels from many in the film fraternity for brilliantly essaying a wide variety of characters during his ''more-than-two-decade-long film career''.

However, the accolades that came the way of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor earlier this week would have warmed the cockles of the heart of even this ''much-used-to-critical acclaim'' actor.

In what could be seen as a rare honour for a Bollywood actor especially on foreign shores, South African President Thabo Mbeki paid tribute to Anil Kapoor at no less a forum than Mr Mbeki's annual state of the nation address to the South African parliament.

''I am honoured to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of an outstanding human being and friend of our country and people, the leading Indian Bollywood actor, Anil Kapoor,'' Mr Mbeki said in his tribute to the Bollywood actor during his address.

It was also an occasion when Anil Kapoor was honoured as a ''global brand ambassador'' for the African nation.

''All of us are deeply moved that Anil Kapoor, a citizen of the beloved land of Mahatma Gandhi, has agreed to serve as one of South Africa's global brand ambassadors, committed to mobilise the peoples of the world to support our efforts to make a success of our liberation,'' Mr Mbeki said in his felicitation of the Bollywood actor.