Sir Ben Kingsley’s real name revealed as veteran actor reflects on the sad reason why he decided to change it before landing his career defining role as Mahatma Gandhi

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Sir Ben Kingsley’s incredibly realistic performance as Mahatma Gandhi immediately won him an Academy Award. However, landing this career-defining role also came with personal challenges.

The acclaimed actor was just 38 years old when he took on the role of Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film about the leader, sharing the screen with notable actors like Sir John Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Edward Fox, and Sir John Mills.

Surprisingly, this was only his second time appearing in a film, despite having spent over ten years working on well-known television dramas like the classic BBC series Play for Today and the long-running Crown Court.

Sir Ben Kingsley, who was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji 81 years ago to an English mother and an Indian father, has said he had to change his name early in his acting career. He realized it was necessary after a difficult audition when he was starting out.

‘As soon as I changed my name, I got the jobs,’ he told the latest edition of Radio Times. 

You know, early in my career, I actually auditioned for a role using my birth name, Krishna Bhanji. It went really well – they loved the audition! But ultimately, they just weren’t sure where I fit into their upcoming plans. It was a gentle way of saying I didn’t quite match what they were looking for at that moment, and honestly, it was a valuable lesson in understanding how important ‘fit’ is in this industry.

‘I changed my name, crossed the road, and they said when can you start?’  

Ben Kingsley began his television career in the 1966 sitcom Pardon The Expression. He appeared in several minor TV roles during the 1970s before achieving widespread recognition with his iconic performance in the film Gandhi.

Honestly, it doesn’t escape me – the sheer irony of it all! They changed his name, a name with such deep roots in both Hinduism and Islam, and then he ended up portraying one of India’s most brilliant, independent thinkers? It’s just… wow. As a long-time fan, it really struck me, you know? It’s a beautiful, layered thing, and I can’t help but feel like the actor himself recognizes the weight of it all.

He admitted the story really reflected the attitudes of the 1960s. He pointed out the irony that he’d actually changed his difficult-to-pronounce stage name to something simpler and more widely accepted, all so he could play Mahatma Gandhi. He found the situation quite ironic.

In the 2014 romantic film Learning To Drive, Kingsley explored his Indian roots while portraying Darwan Singh Tur, a Sikh driving instructor.

After decades performing as ‘Krishna,’ he now says he no longer identifies with that persona.

He explained, ‘I don’t really focus on myself, even when I’m performing. When I’m on stage, I see myself more as someone who paints landscapes.’

Since becoming a film actor, I’ve come to think of myself as a portrait artist. I’ve been signing my work as Ben Kingsley for decades, and that truly represents who I am.

The actor received critical praise for his performance as Itzhak Stern, a Holocaust survivor, in Steven Spielberg’s powerful 1993 film, Schindler’s List.

In 2000, he gained a new wave of fans for his performance as the ruthless criminal Don Logan in the film Sexy Beast. This role brought him nominations for prestigious awards including the Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe, and Academy Award.

As someone who’s observed a lot of families navigate life and careers, I find Kingsley’s story fascinating. He’s happily married to Daniela Lavender – she’s his fourth wife, and they’ve built a lovely life together. What really warms my heart is seeing his sons, Edmund and Ferdinand, follow in his footsteps and pursue acting themselves. It’s wonderful when passions are passed down through generations!

Although he’s incredibly proud of what his children have accomplished, the actor shares that he never actually asked his own parents if they were proud of him when he became successful.

He explained that asking them would have highlighted the fact they weren’t there, so he avoided the question, not wanting to know the response.

‘You should never have to audition for your love.’ 

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2025-11-26 19:00