Australian pacer Brett Lee's much-talked about Bollywood career is all set to take off next year when he lands in India to shoot for a cameo in a film titled Victory.
Although the details of the film are not yet known, a report in the Sunday Telegraph said the tearaway pacer will do a day-long shoot for the movie next year.
"There's no question Brett is among the most marketable athletes in Australian sport," Lee's agent Neil Maxwell, who is himself a former cricketer, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
"There are Australian athletes offshore who can tap into bigger markets and possibly make more money, but the Indian market has been a massive coup for Brett. It's given him a platform to launch himself globally," he added.
The affable bowler, who has a huge fan-base in India, has never been shy of admitting that he was interested in foraying into acting in Bollywood.
Lee, who also sings and plays bass-guitar for a band Six and Out, last year teamed up with legendary Indian singer Asha Bhonsle for a chart-buster duet You are the one for me.
And his manager said Lee's squeaky clean image has increased his opportunities in the entertainment industry.
"Obviously there's his blond, fresh-faced appeal, but one thing about Brett is his make-up as a person," Maxwell said.
"No sponsor needs to worry about him taking drugs or being pulled out of a nightclub at 3 am. I've never seen anyone so pedantic about what goes into his body," he added.
The 31-year-old, who is one of the highest-paid Australian cricketers, has a multi-year Cricket Australia contract and will end the year with earnings of more than US $ three million.
However, Lee said he would not allow money to influence his choice of brands for promotion. The pacer said he would never take up any campaign for a alcohol brand.
In fact, he said he turned down an advertising contract offered by a alcohol company after he burst into the international scene with a seven-wicket haul against India at the age of 23.
"It was a massive deal, I was blown away. The money would have set me up for life, but it was from an alcohol company My answer straight away was no. I didn't want kids seeing a Test cricketer plugging alcohol," he recalled.
"Looking back, it was the best move I ever made. The money and the status hasn't changed me. Everyone in my eyes is equal. I don't think I'm better than the average bloke who goes to work every day," he added.
Lee also said that he would not let endorsements and his other off-field activities affect his on-field performance.
"I've got some great sponsors and I enjoy being a brand ambassador, but what drives me is being the best cricketer I can be," he said.
"I'm on the cusp of 250 Test wickets, that's just bizarre. You know, as a kid, I just wanted to take one Test wicket, now if you do the maths it's possible I'll go past Dennis Lillee. I'm one off Richie Benaud. It makes me the proudest cricketer on earth," Lee, who has taken 247 Test wickets so far, said.
Image: Brett Lee and partner Liz Kemp at the 2007 Australian Idol grand final at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday.
