Sir Ben Kingsley could have had a pop career like The Beatles

London, August 1 : Oscar-winning 'Gandhi' star Sir Ben Kingsley has revealed he was once in a dilemma over whether to choose acting or a pop career like The Beatles, and he preferred the former choice.

"I was offered a contract by Dick James, who was the manager of Northern Songs, who in turn recorded all the Beatles' early discs," the Telegraph quoted him as recalling.

Kingsley said that James was quite impressed with his musical skills, and wanted him to pursue a pop career.

"It was an extraordinary meeting and he was quite insistent because he'd heard me play the guitar and sing on stage, as did John and Ringo. It was quite difficult for me to decide which way to go, and then in the same week I was offered a line of small roles in classical theatre and I decided to follow that route," he added.

The actor, who was born Krishna Bhanji to English model-actress Anne Lyna Goodman and her doctor husband Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, also revealed that he changed his name to Ben Kingsley because he feared that a foreign-sounding name could hinder his career.

ANI