Roger Moore says India has changed a lot since filming `Octopussy`

Actor News - 19-11-05

Roger Moore, who had last come to India almost 22 years ago to shoot as James Bond in "Octopussy", says the country has changed a lot and more prosperity is visible now - reports New Kerala.

"India indeed has changed a lot. There is increased prosperity visible. But I also feel that the rich have got richer and the poor have only got poorer," Moore, who is touring India as a Unicef goodwill ambassador, told IANS.

Moore, who was knighted by the British queen in 2003, had come to shoot for the 1983 Bond flick "Octopussy" that also starred two Indians - actor Kabir Bedi and tennis player Vijay Amritraj. He was reportedly shocked at the utter poverty on display in the country at the time.

Moore, now 78, played the British secret agent as many as seven times, but says he was just lucky as an actor. When asked whether his image of Ian Felming's suave and sexy spy overshadowed his acting talent, he simply said: "What talent?"

"What talent are you talking about? Man! I was plain lucky as an actor," said the affable Moore.

He still exudes charm, what with that friendly smile and sparkling light blue eyes. He is being accompanied on his India trip - to promote universal salt iodisation - by wife Kristina Tholstrup Moore.

He got his big international break in 1962 with the television series "The Saint" that made him a superstar. His role in the 1971 series "The Persuaders!" was hugely popular in Europe.

With the dark "The Man Who Haunted Himself" (1970), he also proved that there was far more to him than the light-hearted roles he had previously accepted till then.

The London-born son of a policeman, Moore succeeded Sean Connery to play Bond at the age of 46 and was the oldest person to debut as 007 in "Live and Let Die" (1973). He is also the oldest actor to have ever played the character in "A View To A Kill" (1985) at 57.

When asked how much the character of James Bond has changed over the years, Moore, whose contract for 007 films once provided him with an unlimited supply of Montecristo cigars, said he did not follow Bond movies much these days.

"I would not know much about Bond movies these days as I have not watched one in a long time," Moore clarified.

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.

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