Yadav: 'Kingsley crucial for Teen Patti'

Leena Yadav has claimed that Sir Ben Kingsley plays a crucial role in Teen Patti (Three Cards).

The director said that no-one else could have done justice to the role of mathematician Perci Trachtenberg.

"Kingsley's role is very crucial in the film and he is not playing a cameo," Yadav told New Straits Times.

"I always wanted an international star to play the role of Perci in my film and I knew there was no-one else who could give justice to the film except Sir Ben Kingsley. I am happy that I got him on board."

Kingsley, 66, will make his Bollywood debut in Teen Patti, 30 years after he shot to fame in India for his Oscar-winning performance in Ghandi.

"I am still connected to Gandhi. It's a recognition. It’s something indelible and extraordinary in my bones," said Kingsley, who was born in Krishna Bhanji to a British mother and Indian father.

Teen Patti, which is set in a London casino, also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Boman Irani, R Madhavan, Sushmita Sen and Ajay Devgan. The film will be released on Friday.