Kingsley: Faux pas

London, Feb. 26: Sir Ben Kingsley has apologised for his title being included on publicity posters for his new film, Lucky Number Slevin ? blaming a “faux pas” by the producers.

The 62-year-old actor has been savagely criticised by contemporaries, including Lord David Puttnam and Sir Roger Moore, for being billed as Sir Ben Kingsley on the film’s publicity material.

But he insisted he had not demanded the wording and fiercely defended his pride in his knighthood. That pride, he said, was heightened by the racism he had suffered as a child and a young actor. He was born Krishna Bhanji, the son of a Kenyan-born doctor of Indian descent.

The Oscar-winning star of Gandhi admitted criticism of the posters for the new film ? in which he plays a gangster ? had been “entirely justified”.

He told the Sunday Telegraph: “I was shocked when I found out what had happened. No one’s ever asked for the title to be used in this way because that’s not the way we work in this profession. It’s always been and should always be Ben Kingsley.

“I love the team behind Lucky Slevin and I love the film, but I think some well-meaning executive sat down and said, ‘What shall we call him: Ben Kingsley, Sir Ben or even Sir Kingsley?’ The upshot is it goes off in a memo and no one thinks to stop it. The reaction to the poster from other people in our profession was totally justified, but it was a reaction to someone else’s faux pas.”

The use of Kingsley’s title on the poster prompted Lord Puttnam to call him “barmy”. Sir Roger branded the move a “load of pretentious b******s”. Neither use their titles in film credits or promotionals.

Tackling claims that he insists on being called Sir Ben on set and even signs his e-mails SBK, the father-of-four said: “The reference to SBK is meant as a joke. It’s a nickname and a term of endearment and something I’m very proud of.

“If I’ve ever insisted on being called ‘Sir’ by colleagues on a film set then I am profoundly sorry. I don’t remember ever doing that and I tend not to forget.”

Yesterday, Kia Jam, one of the film’s producers, was unable to clarify why Kingsley’s title had been included. “This is the first I’ve heard of this,” he said.

“Campaigns for our films tend to be subcontracted out to different companies in different territories.”