‘James Bond is nothing more than a comic strip’

Q&A Roger Moore

At one time, he knocked off shark-toothed villains, romanced the girls and still found time to save the world; all the time ensuring that his tuxedo remained spotless, and not a drop spilled from his dry martini (shaken, not stirred.) But that was as James Bond, the man with a licence to kill.

Now ROGER MOORE is jetting around the globe to talk about children's rights and drawing attention to more worthy causes. So has the quintessential male chauvinist turned a tree-hugging activist? Not really, he says - this is just his way of using his fame to spread the good word.

At 79, he continues to have that twinkle in his eye that endeared him to millions, even those who were skeptical of his taking over from Sean Connery.

In an exclusive interview with Sidharth Bhatia, Moore talks about his role as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and shows why the ladies fell for his insouciant charm.

This is not your first trip to Mumbai. Do you find it changed from the last time you were here, in the 1970s?

I didn't see much of the city the last time round. We just passed through it from Delhi to Goa and stayed for a day or so at the Taj Mahal hotel. I remember it being rather grand. I also recall that when my flight was delayed, the hotel suggested I stay back a couple of extra hours-from midnight to 2 a.m. and when I was checking out, I saw that my bill had doubled! This time I have come to Mumbai, not Bombay. All these new names; even the name of the city where my mother was born has changed to Kol…Kolkata.

So what have seen in Mumbai?

From the air I saw many forts. When I drove into the city I saw a lot of beggars. It was very disturbing to see all those deformed children.

What brings you to India?

I am involved with the campaign to promote iodised salt. Non-iodised salt was banned in India, but then the ban was withdrawn. And you can see the effect it has had on children's health by way of Iodine Deficiency Disorders-the statistics are worrying. There is urgent need for legislation to bring back the ban.

So from licence to kill you have got a licence to do good?

I would rather call it licence to help. I was brought into this by Audrey Hepburn, a good friend who was also a UNICEF Ambassador. No one can take her place, or the place of the others like Danny Kaye or Peter Ustinov, all of whom have worked with UNICEF; they have been a great inspiration. I don't know if it has helped anyone, but it has made a big difference in my life.

Everyone has their favourite Bond and each actor had his own style. Connery played it seriously with a hint of danger and menace; Dalton was a classical actor and Brosnan's Bond was broody and full of angst. What about you?

For me James Bond was an extension of my own personality. I think film heroes are not real, just movie characters and I played him tongue-in-cheek, just like I am. It was all a ridiculous piece of fun, all those gadgets and everything. For instance, I have always wondered, why does the villain always tell Bond his whole plan?

Some have complained that your Bond was no different from The Saint, whom you played on television.

Exactly! And that's because I basically played myself. I am not a character actor, playing characters differently. James Bond was nothing more than a comic strip, good for a laugh, though Cubby Broccoli (the series producer) may not see it that way. But it's a unique series, and it's been going on for 40 years.

Recently Pierce Brosnan too said he found the whole think ridiculous and the dialogues corny. Which is why he did not want to do it anymore.

He said that first, and then he said he wanted to do it. Maybe he was sick of it. Who knows what he was really thinking?

The newest recruit, Daniel Craig, is blond-haired. A pretty boy Bond? What do you think of him? Can you see an Asian or a black Bond in the future?

Why not a blond? Even I had blond streaks. But of course I wanted Ewan Mcgregor. You know, he is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador -it would have kept the role in the UN family. And yes, why not an Asian or a black Bond.

Any favourite Bond villains?

They were all good - Louis Jordan, Kabir Bedi, Curt Juergens, Richard Kiel (Christopher Lee too, Moore's wife interjects). I used to complain that the best roles went to the villains, but of course they did not get paid as much as I did (laughs).

Connery got to fight villains like Rosa Krebb.

Oh, the nasty woman with knife in her shoe!

And the Bond girls? Who was your all time favourite?

No favourites. A gentleman does not talk about last night's conquest.

Final question. Have you seen any of the Bollywood versions of James Bond?

No I haven't. I am told James Bond has been copied and parodied all over the world. But you can't parody Bond, because it is a parody by itself.