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In around 1961, an Indian civil servant, Motilal Kothari, gave me a biography of Mahatma Gandhi and asked me to read it with a view to directing a film. I told him that I had never directed before. However he then said he was aware of my concern with racial tolerance and insisted I consider it. I started to read the book and, on page 23, there was an incident that happened in South Africa when Gandhi was only 19. He was walking along the pavement with his Indian colleague and, as was the custom in those times, they stepped into the gutter to let the white people past. After he turned to his friend and said, "You know, I'm always amazed that men should feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow human beings." I thought, "Man alive, what an amazing statement to say at aged 19." I wanted to say to Mr Kothari "I haven't finished reading your damn book, but I'll give anything to direct that film." I finished it without sleeping and I knew, although I'd never thought of directing before - I was quite content as I was to act and produce - but from that moment I wanted to direct that film.

Lord Attenborough