BEN KINGSLEY - KINGSLEY DENIES HE DEMANDS TO BE CALLED SIR

British actor SIR BEN KINGSLEY has played down rumours he demands to be called by his upper-class title, insisting knighthoods "should never be used on billings." The Gandhi star - who was knighted in 2002 - was billed as 'Sir Ben Kingsley' in the credits for Lucky Number Slevin, but the move attracted disapproval from critics. The 63-year-old says, "A title should never be used on billings. The backlash from that was completely understandable, but it's all been blown a bit out of proportion. It's part of this wonderful British satirical streak. "If someone wants to call me Sir Ben, it's great; if someone wants to call me Ben, it's great, too."