Time magazine asked mostly-desi* actor Krishna Bhanji ten reader-submitted questions in their August 13th issue; on their website, there were several more “online extras”. I picked the eleven most mutinous inquiries for you to procrastinate with— the entire interview is on their website, where incidentally (for all my fellow Lego-lovers) this Picture of the Week should inspire smiles. Now let’s get back on topic and learn about the actor who, for better or worse, is part of every ABD’s childhood. kingsley.jpg

1. What do you look for in a role? —Catherine Raymond, BELLINGHAM, WASH.
I look for the echo inside me. Maybe we’re all born with our future coiled up inside us like a spring, and we just unravel this coiled spring and work it out. I’m sorry if this sounds a bit bizarre. I’m trying so hard not to be pretentious because I’m always called pompous and pretentious.

First Gandhi-related inquiry:

2. How would Gandhi play the role of Ben Kingsley? —Mills Chapman, VILLANOVA, PA.
He was an astonishingly quick and witty judge of character, so I bet he could have done a very good impersonation of me.
3. Would you change anything about your acting career? —Grant Curtiss, ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.
No. It’s a bit like The Butterfly Effect, that amazing science-fiction novel, where if you go back and alter one molecule of your past, the present that you’re enjoying will disintegrate.
4. Have you ever felt compelled to pursue any political issues? —Ross Davenport, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
I’m only strong as a storyteller. I’m not strong as a politician. Hopefully, with my journeys around the world, having visited the Pakistan earthquake zone, a girls’ school in Afghanistan and some refugee camps in the Palestinian areas, then I’ll be stronger as an actor at choosing the right kind of material.

What’s in a name?

5. Why did you change your name (from Krishna Bhanji)? —Andrew Lawrence, FAIRFIELD, CONN.
It was a way of getting to my first audition. My dad [who is Indian] was completely behind it. My first name, Ben, is my dad’s nickname. My second name, Kingsley, comes from my grandfather’s nickname, which was King Clove. He was a spice trader. It’s a bit late to change it back now.

This one is for Abhi (and it may be my favorite question). ;)

6. Do people ever confuse you with Patrick Stewart? —Kevin Kuder, STOW, OHIO
I was at the Royal Shakespeare Company sitting in the audience, and a girl who was maybe 11 came up to me and said, “I love you in Star Trek.” And I’m sitting there thinking I’m the king of the world, and I said, “Actually, I’m Ben Kingsley.” She looked completely blank and said, “Well, congratulations, you look like Patrick Stewart.”

Definitely desi:

7. I know we’re supposed to ask serious, boring questions, but I’ll try my luck: If you could be reborn as an ice cream flavor, what flavor would you be? —Ellizah Adam in Jakarta, Indonesia
I’d be pistachio. Definitely pistachio. I don’t know why that’s such a quick answer but honestly pistachio jumped at me. Maybe because I was asked to have an ice cream last week in a movie I’m making here in New York and I said, ‘could I have pistachio’ and the prop guy said no. My face dropped. That would be on film, my sad face.
8. What has been your favorite role so far? —Ashwin Sivanesan in Columbus, Ohio
That’s difficult because I’ve been blessed by so many remarkable roles. I’ve been really, really fortunate so far. Elegy has not been screened yet; I just finished doing that with Penélope Cruz. But my favorite is House of Sand and Fog because it stirred something inside me. I still love the character; it’s left its thumbprint on me. They don’t always do that, but he did. There was something supremely dignified about him. He was committed to his family and culture, determined to make America his home, torn between the past and the future and unable to build a present for himself and his family. I loved him. I thought he was a great archetypal dad.

Bring on the real Gandhi questions!

9. How did playing the role of Gandhi influence you? —Ashish Daga in Chennai, India
It was a great quest. I know that [director Richard] Attenborough had been attempting to do it for 20 years. I’m thrilled that it’s still present in so many people’s lives. I meet people here in New York who said ‘I saw it last week.’ They’re not delving back into memory; it’s never on the video shows. Millions of people are watching it somewhere every day. It’s thrilling, especially now. It’s very dangerous times that we live in. I was with great people making that film. It was my first major feature film, my first leading role on screen, and I was surrounded by passionate people. I was surrounded by Indians who were passionate that this story should be told correctly and beautifully. It was humbling and an enormous responsibility. I think it stretched a lot of my muscles and I hope they haven’t shrunk back yet.

His graciousness is refreshing; I can imagine how the next guy thought he was being so clever, and a bit edgy with what he came up with…

10. How many years ago did you tire of answering questions about Gandhi? —Boris Bozic in Sydney, Australia
The reason I’m asked about it is not because it’s a memory, but because people are seeing it every week. It’s like a new experience for so many kids at school. It’s quite wonderful. I don’t think I’m going to get tired of answering questions about it because the questions are so good. It’s great being an actor: You have so many opportunities to touch people.
11. What’s on your iPod these days? —Rob Liston in Hamilton, Ontario
It’s very, very mixed. There’s Bulgarian music, there’s songs from Pakistan. I switch from track to track depending on what my particular mood needs. It’s very broad. There’s music from the Middle East, from the Ottoman Empire, from India and there’s some very English stuff as well. There’s some of the stuff my sons send me that I put on there. I’ve got a good musical ear, so I can listen to most things.

I like him more after all that. You?

::

*I know his Dad was desi and his Mom was not, but he played Gandhi. That is all.

No, really, doesn’t that increase his brownosity in your opinion?

**Apropos of nothing: my parents were so strict, up until I was in high school, I only saw three movies at the theater: Snow White, Gandhi and The Little Mermaid. The only reason I got a reprieve from Disney is because my Father thought that this movie was so significant, me and my then tiny sister had to see it. We sat through it solemnly, as if we were at church.