Ben Kingsley shines in the film.
Sir Ben Kingsley was born as Krishna Pandit Bhanji, whose father was of Gujarati descent.
Over his five-decade film career, Kingsley has dazzled the audience with his powerful and nuanced performances.
The recipient of many awards, he is a joy to watch and is an incredibly diverse actor.
While he has shone in several films, there are some that do a fine job of capturing his celluloid magnificence.
DESIblitz lists ten films starring Ben Kingsley that you need to see.
Gandhi (1982)
Director: Richard Attenborough
Stars: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergin, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Rohini Hattangadi
In Richard Attenborough’s sterling biopic of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Ben Kingsley takes on the role of the titular freedom fighter.
This epic film chronicles Gandhi’s journey as a persecuted lawyer in South Africa to his struggle towards achieving freedom for India from the British regime.
Kingsley disappears into the character of Gandhi, nailing his mannerisms and accent.
He delivers speeches with power and conveys a lot through his facial expressions.
For the film, Kingsley won the 1983 Academy Award for ‘Best Actor’.
With a beautiful score by Ravi Shankar and George Fenton, Gandhi is also one of the most sensitive biopics ever made.
Bhanu Athaiya also won an Oscar for her costume design in the film, becoming one of the few Indians to do so.
Bugsy (1991)
Director: Barry Levinson
Stars: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Joe Mantegna
Kingsley plays the crime boss Meyer Lansky in Barry Levinson’s Bugsy.
Although he doesn’t play the lead character, Kingsley certainly leaves an impressionable mark as the criminal who was also called ‘Mob’s Accountant’.
Bugsy is a biopic of the gangster Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel (Warren Beatty), who strayed into a life of crime with Lansky in childhood.
Kingsley is sharp and cunning as Lansky, who eclipses the screen whenever he is up there.
In a scene, Bugsy is forced to kill his trusted friend, showing the depths and cruel difficulties of the crime world.
In a review of the film, Roger Ebert says: “Bugsy moves with a lightness that belies its strength.
“It is a movie that vibrates with optimism and passion, with the exuberance of the con man on his game.”
Kingsley certainly makes an undeniable contribution towards making the film the ride it is.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz
Set against the backdrop of World War Two, Steven Spielberg’s classic is regarded as one of the greatest films ever produced.
Ben Kingsley portrays the Holocaust survivor Itzhak Stern.
Stern helps the industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) to arrange his financing.
In a scene, Stern and Schindler don’t know if they will ever see each other again.
The chemistry between Kingsley and Neeson is emotional and gripping.
Highlighting this, Kingsley comments: “Liam and I became friends, and mutually supportive in the very difficult process of making this film.
“And I think our characters share the same relationship that we did.
“It’s marvellous when that real feeling can be brought to the camera.”
Schindler’s List is a rousing film and won several Oscars.
Sexy Beast (2000)
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Stars: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, Cavan Kendall, Julianne White
This black comedy sees Kingsley become the feared sociopath, Don Logan.
Don arrives to recruit Gary ‘Gal’ Dove (Ray Winstone) back into crime.
Unresolved feelings for Jackie (Julianne White), a ferocious temper, and lying as second nature, make Don one of the most notable villains Kingsley has ever played.
Kingsley is daring and ominous as Don Logan, creating a memorable character and immersing himself in the role.
Even after an incident happens, Don’s presence still haunts Gal. Will he ever be free of him?
Highlighting Kingsley’s performance, a review states:
“Sexy Beast rises above other movies in the British gangster genre due to its performances—particularly an electrifying one by Ben Kingsley.”
Kingsley is the jewel of Sexy Beast, and the evidence is there for all to see.
Oliver Twist (2005)
Director: Roman Polanski
Stars: Barney Clark, Ben Kingsley, Jamie Foreman, Leanne Rowe
When one thinks about adaptations of Charles Dickens’s classic novel, they usually think of the 1968 musical film, Oliver!
However, Roman Polanski’s film Oliver Twist is an engaging piece of art which emboldens Kingsley’s acting versatility.
Kingsley portrays Fagin, who is the master of the group of thieves Oliver gets lured into.
Fagin joins forces with Bill Sikes (Jamie Foreman) to wage plans against Oliver (Barney Clark) when they worry that he will turn them into the authorities.
Kingsley is menacing and sly, encapsulating Fagin’s flaws and his motives.
The film was not as well-received as the 1968 musical. However, that doesn’t discredit the sincerity of the movie.
Ben Kingsley shines in the film, putting an original stamp on Fagin.
Shutter Island (2010)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams
In Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller, Kingsley plays Dr John Cawley.
Cawley is a psychiatrist who treats Edward ‘Teddy’ Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio).
In a Scorsese-DiCaprio collaboration, the Titanic star is expected to carry the limelight.
However, Kingsley carves his own identity in Shutter Island.
Although Cawley presents himself as a compassionate psychiatrist, Kingsley adds an untrustworthy layer to him and makes him a stand-out character in Scorsese’s cinema.
Kingsley also shares a great chemistry with DiCaprio and they both bounce off each other in this brilliant film.
Hugo (2011)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone
Continuing with the fabulous collaborations between Kingsley and Martin Scorsese, we come to Hugo, based on Brian Selznick’s popular book.
It tells the story of Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who becomes fascinated by a broken automaton.
Kingsley brings Georges Méliès / Papa Georges to life. Georges is the owner of a toy store from where Hugo steals.
As a recompense, Georges offers Hugo the chance to work at the store.
But is Papa Georges all he seems, or is there more to him than meets the eye?
Watch Scorsese’s masterpiece to find out!
Talking about portraying Georges, Kingsley explains: “What was most important to me was how to play the man’s loss.
“So I started by examining his gain.
“In order to explore the terrible deficit in the toy shop, I needed to explore the gain, in order to appreciate and portray the anesthetised state he lived in his years in the toy shop.”
Kingsley’s performance is honest and intriguing.
Ender’s Game (2013)
Director: Gavin Hood
Stars: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis
As Mazer Rackham, Kingsley brings fascination to Ender’s Game.
The film narrates the saga of Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin (Asa Butterfield).
Ender’s aptitude in stimulated space combat catches attention and he is recruited to Battle School.
Discussing the film’s unique selling point, Kingsley says: “I think one of the many glorious aspects of the film is the question of, are we or are we not going to change that boy’s soul forever?
“And we see at the end of the film whether we have or not.”
“And I think the film goes ‘ssssshhhhhhhh’ up at the end, which is great.”
Explaining why he signed Ender’s Game, he continues: “The very unusual silhouette I was asked to fill.
“That extraordinary evolved warrior who, and I don’t want to diminish it, he’s just a warrior.
“That’s what he does and that is the force that is brought to bear on Asa’s character. Our level of teachers, tutors, generals, military men and women are there to shape them and mould them into what we want.”
Learning To Drive (2014)
Director: Isabel Coixet
Stars: Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Jake Weber, Grace Gummer, Sarita Choudhury
This charming film sees Kingsley play a driving instructor named Darwan Singh Tur.
He gives driving lessons to a middle-aged Wendy Shields (Patricia Clarkson), but their relationship is more than that of a student and teacher.
Wendy and Darwan end up helping each other through their respective relationship problems.
For example, Wendy is having trouble with her estranged husband Ted (Jake Weber).
Meanwhile, Darwan struggles to connect with his newly wedded wife Jasleen (Sarita Choudhury).
Wendy also defends Darwan against racism in a scene.
Kingsley delivers an earnest, heartwarming performance.
Learning To Drive is an ode to friendship, perseverance, and relationships.
The Jungle Book (2016)
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken
Jon Favreau’s live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1967 animated classic shows how advanced modern technology is.
Although Kingsley is not seen in the film, he voices the character of the panther, Bagheera.
The Jungle Book narrates the exploits of Mowgli – a human boy who has been raised in an Indian jungle by a pack of wolves.
Outside his wolf family, Mowgli’s guardian is Bagheera, who guides him to human habitation following the threat of the tiger, Sher Khan.
Ben Kingsley infuses regality and royalness into Bagheera’s character. There is so much maturity and wisdom echoing in the voice that you wish you had the panther to guide you.
Although almost the entire film was created via computer-generated imagery, it is hard not to be blown away by Kingsley’s voiceover, which is the heart of The Jungle Book.
Ben Kingsley is one of cinema’s most talented and beloved actors.
His performances always floor and charm the audience.
Despite the fate of the film, Kingsley’s acting always remains in the hearts of the audience.
Whether it is portraying a revered historical figure like Gandhi, or voicing a fictional black panther, Kingsley can do all of it with equal skill.
So, grab your snacks and embrace the veteran star, Ben Kingsley.
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