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In his autobiographical book “Chicago Days, Hoboken Nights”, author Daniel Pinkwater describes a disturbing and inexplicable incident that occurred in his early adulthood. The author remembers visiting a miniature museum, not very busy, where a real mummy was on display. The museum was small enough that there was no security around the mummy, and a visitor could easily touch it if they wanted. Oddly, there was a sign next to the mummy that read: “PLEASE DON’T TASTE THE MUMMY.” Pinkwater couldn’t imagine why such a sign was posted… until he realized that he… he wanted to taste the mummy too. Pinkwater leaned forward and stuck out his tongue, driven by an unusual desire.
A security guard caught the perpetrator before he could lick the mummy, snapping Pinkwater out of his fugue state. He asked the guard if it was a big problem, and the guard explained that yes, people came to lick the mummy all the time. (Maybe it will be a plot point in “The Mummy 4”.)
The point of this story is that we are sometimes struck by very, very strange impulses that we cannot explain. This was certainly the case for Walter Koenig on the set of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979. In this film, Koenig reprized his role as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and starred alongside franchise newcomer, Indian model and actor Persis Khambatta. The latter actor played in the film the role of Ilia, a Deltan with a bald head. In his 1980 biography “Chekov’s Enterprise”, Koenig admitted that he was once struck by a strange urge – during the film’s makeup and costume tests – to kiss his co-star on the top of his bald head. Not in a sexual or romantic way, but just because… well, just because.
Walter Koenig was once struck by the desire to kiss the bald head of Persis Khambatta.
Koenig wrote about his experiences in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in his daily journal, and his August 2, 1978 entry was very strange indeed. He wrote:
“Today we are testing the costume and the makeup. Is the person suitable for the makeup? Does the costume suit them? Is the makeup suitable for the costume? Will everything fit together? Will everyone have a cut?
“10:30 a.m., I discover Persis in the makeup room. I discover her bald head. Not bald. Naked. Intriguing, captivating. I want – no – need to kiss her. She says, “Of course,” like a mother does to her nine-year-old’s shy request for a second cookie.”
Unlike Pinkwater tasting a mummy, Koenig’s urge to kiss Khambatta’s bald head was satisfied. But Koenig was immediately embarrassed. He theorized that a woman as beautiful as Khambatta probably had to respond to bizarre requests like hers all the time. Koenig also wrote that the experience was:
“Not exactly what I expected. God knows what I expected! It’s a bumpy, spiny skull with an Egyptian #8 base. [makeup] on that.”
Koenig eventually came to the conclusion that strange desires like kissing bald heads should perhaps be left to the “nostalgia” phase. It is better to wonder about unusual kisses on the bald head than, in his words, “to make up your teeth.” Khambatta never mentioned the incident with Koenig, so his feelings about the kiss are not in the public domain. Koenig has since appeared in six other “Star Trek” films and still gives interviews today. Sadly, Khambatta died in 1998 due to health problems related to smoking.
