Ben Kingsley | Krishna Pandit Bhanji

A movie or show can garner plenty of recognition by promoting its filmmaker and stars. With that said, one such actor who has his foot steady on the gas pedal, always guaranteeing a great performance, no matter what role he gets, is Ben Kingsley.

Beginning his career on stage, Kingsley eventually made his way to more on-screen projects, with his film debut being 1972’s Fear Is the Key. By 1982, he garnered even more recognition for his portrayal of the titular character in the biopic Gandhi, earning him an Oscar for Best Actor. Since then, Kingsley has worked on other projects such as Schindler’s List, Shutter Island, The Dictator, and Iron Man 3. Outside the spotlight, the actor was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji. He got his stage name from his father and grandfather’s nicknames: his father’s was Ben, and King Clove his grandfather’s.