Pune: Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had strong reservations against allowing Richard Attenborough to shoot for his epic film "Gandhi" at Aga Khan Palace in Pune because he had cast a British actor- Ben Kingsley- to play the part of the Mahatma.
"Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai - a known Gandhian- was chairman of Gandhi National Memorial Society when Attenborough's unit sought permission to shoot in the precincts of the palace," Shobhana Ranade, the then secretary of GNMS trust told PTI.
Gandhi National Memorial Society is the caretaker of the Aga Khan Palace, where Kasturba Gandhi spent her last days after the Mahatma's assassination.
"Why do we need a 'nakli' (fake) Gandhi to portray the Mahatma," Desai was quoted as saying by the 90-year-old Ranade, explaining Morarji's had reservations about a Britisher playing Mahatma Gandhi.
Desai finally gave permission after ten days but not before Attenborough was given a list of "Do's and Don'ts" for his shoot at the historic palace.
"We told him that consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited on the premises and the trustees had a zero tolerance policy towards those who violate these norms," Ranade said.
Attenborough, who was accompanied by his wife Sheila, accepted all their conditions wholeheartedly and graciously.
""He used to call me whenever they took their food during the shoots, playfully asking to inspect the stuff to ensure there was no alcohol or meat," she reminisced.
"He was wonderful and a very warm human being, besides a great film maker. He sent me Christmas greetings every year without fail. This year I am going to miss it," she said.
Attenborough- who died earlier this week aged 91 - struggled for twenty years to make a biopic on the father of Indian Independence movement. His efforts were rewarded when the film won eight Oscars including best picture and best director for Attenborough.
Actor Ben Kingsley, who Morarji had reservations about, went on to win the best actor award.