Indian cinema occupying important place in global arena, says Kingsley
Posted on December 3, 2009
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British actor Ben Kingsley, known for his memorable portrayal as Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s epic movie Gandhisays Indian cinema is occupying a very important place in the global arena. ”The camera hates acting and loves behaviour. I see Indian actors just behave in front of the camera. The storytelling is universal and not parochial. The energy, talent, expertise here is huge and a film made in India about Indians is accepted worldwide and has bagged an Oscar this year,” Kingsley told PTI. A nostalgic Kingsley, who is the Guest of Honour at the ongoing 40th IFFI, recalled the extraordinary welcome given to him from the prominent co-actors to the distant extra in the background on the sets of Gandhi when he first came to participate in the shooting.
“There was unwavering pride and enthusiasm that the story of their hero is being told and through this film, the world will get to know about him. The pride is still there and is very relevant,” the noted actor, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001, said. Speaking about his understanding of Gandhi as part of his preparations for the role in his debut film, Kingsley said, “Gandhi was a very complex man. But, all complexities were held in balance. I had to find a way of simplifying the task because if I had a complicated view it would have been impossible for the performance.”"I tried to find what his source of energy was. It was his unwavering faith in the power of truth to survive. However, this is bit academic for an actor to try and portray,” he said. Kingsley further said that he decided to understand Gandhi’s anger. ”Many people misunderstood or still misunderstand action of great leaders of not resorting to violence. They feel the leaders are not angry…they have to convert that anger into intelligent, graceful and healing action,” he said.
Kingsley said he portrayed 50 years of Gandhi’s lifespan from the young lawyer in the 20s to the great sage that he was till his 70s. ”I had to find a consistency and it was deep anger and indignation at the manner in which his fellow countrymen were treated. This did not result in an angry performance but the performance that everybody appreciated was fuelled by that anger and indignation,” he said. Speaking about his fetish for unconventional roles, Kingsley attributed it to his association with Shakespeare theatre in his formative years as an actor. ”My first 15 years as an actor closely associated with Shakespeare…I was addicted to the extraordinary, unconventional ways of story telling in Shakespeare theatre. I looked for that level of energy, cleverness, lack of convention that surprises the audiences. Shakespeare plays still surprise the audience even if they know the ending,” he said.
The renowned Hollywood actor who enacted the character of Mahatma Gandhi with panache in Richard Attenborough’s Oscar winning flick ‘Gandhi’, is all set to play the part of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan opposite gorgeous Aishwarya Rai in upcoming flick ‘Taj’. The movie is going to be made on a huge scale with its cost going upwards of Rs 125 crore and the shooting starting in the autumn of next year. The focus of the flick will be on the intrigue, pain, loss and the decisions that went into the making of the Taj Mahal. The flick will especially portray the helplessness and loneliness of Shah Jahan, who had been one of the most powerful rulers of India. Ben Kingsley wants to bring alive the human aspects of jealousy, intrigue, etc, in Shah Jahan’s household that went during and after the making of Taj Mahal. While Ben Kingsley, who is 67 year of age, will play the great Mughal emperor, it will be Aishwarya Rai, in the character of his queen Mumtaz Mahal. It was Mumtaz, who had inspired the renowned ruler to build the monument in her memory. Aishwarya Rai and Ben Kingsley had earlier worked with each other in the ‘Last Legion’ and it was during that period that she was offered the role to play Mumtaz Mahal. Aishwarya, being a big fan of Kingsley, had immediately given her nod for the flick.
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