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.
"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.
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.
Saturday, November 19, 2005 11:53 IST