Puttnam blasts Kingsley for pretension

LONDON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- British film veteran David Puttnam says Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley is "barmy" for insisting he be referred to as "Sir Ben."

"I wish I could just get hold of him and say 'wake up,' the "Chariots of Fire" producer and fellow knight told BBC Radio Five Live. "It's silly.

"In the film industry I'm just David Puttnam and will always be."

Kingsley proclaimed "there is no more Mr. Kingsley any more," after he was knighted in 2001, the Mirror reported Tuesday.

The actor rebuked a German journalist who called him "Mr. Kingsley" during a news conference for "Thunderbirds" and the poster for his latest film, "Lucky Number," bills him as "Sir Ben," the newspaper said.