Sir Ben Kingsley put in an Oscar performance at the Taj Mahal last Wednesday when he visited Agra’s monument of love with Brazilian wife Daniela Lavender. In between posing for shutterbugs, Sir Ben said, “I feel like singing a song for my wife!At which Daniela moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. Next, the actor sat her on his lap and returned the gesture, and even knelt down on his knees to kiss her hands!
Sir Ben, whose second visit this was to Agra, said he was happy for Daniela as it was her first.
On seeing the Taj, Daniela said, “I’m totally shocked
... I never imagined that the monument was so beautiful. There’s a wonderful energy. The place attracts, it is love, isn’t it? I think it was built with two goals — perfection and beauty. Now with the making of the film Taj, people will know about love and pain.”Agra Sir Ben added, “Everyone will identify with Taj because it’s universally so popular, and my idea is to do a cross cultural movie.
We’re trying to examine the energy, the passion, the emotion and joy, and the pain behind the remarkable monument.” The couple spent an hour inside the Taj Mahal before finally walking out. Daniela was heard telling Ben, “Baba, it’s incredible to see the fine work on the walls. How could a building like this be done in the 17th century? It’s a miracle.”