Tina Turner To Star As Indian Goddess

Veteran singer Tina Turner is coming out of retirement to an play an Indian goddess in a new movie.

The WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT singer, who had a successful farewell tour four years ago (00), notes that while she enjoyed being able to fill stadiums with her shows, she wants to test her creative skills in a new arena.

She says, "Now I'm ready to move onto another kind of performance."

The new Merchant-Ivory film, THE GODDESS, will see the 64-year-old devout Buddhist in the title role.

She says, "I think ISMAIL (MERCHANT) chose me because of my shakti (strength) within. I'm special in that I've had a long run and I'm still here."

Merchant, a producer known for making movies with director James Ivory, says Turner has spent two weeks in India and has been practicing classical music with ZAKIR HUSSAIN, India's maestro of the tabla, a small set of drums.

He reveals, "She'll have to sing in Latin and Sanskrit for the film."

Turner's last major acting role was in 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome alongside Mel Gibson.