Kingsley was taught smoking cannabis with fake pot for 'The Wackness' role

ANI

Tue, 01 Jan 2008: 

New York, June 30 (ANI): Film director Jonathan Levine says that he had to teach Sir Ben Kingsley how to smoke cannabis for the latter's role in his film 'The Wackness', though using a fake joint.

 

"I had to teach him how to properly hit a bong," the New York Daily News quoted the writer/director as sayinat the Cinema Society screening of the movie.

 

The film is dark comedy about dealing pot in New York in the '90s, and it depicts Kingsley as a pothead therapist.

 

Levine said that Kingsley took on the role because "versatility is my middle name. I've got to surprise people, and I've got to surprise myself."

 

His younger co-star, Josh Peck, said: "It's surreal watching Method Man pass a fake joint to Sir Ben Kingsley. But the fake pot smoked on the set was bad. It just burned your throat and had no effect. It was a total gyp, dude!"

 

As to what was packed in the joints, Levine said: "It's kind of like herbal tobacco. It doesn't taste great or smell great, either. I felt bad for everyone's lungs." (ANI)