Utusan.com
BOMBAY, INDIA, February 17, 2004: Queen of rock and roll Tina Turner has been signed for a mystic Hollywood movie by US-based Indian director Ismail Merchant. The 63-year-old pop diva and grandmother, who is a convert to Buddhism, has spent two weeks touring India to familiarize herself with Indian culture before filming the movie, “The Goddess,” which is about the power of women. “I think Ismail (Merchant) chose me because of my shakti (power) within. I’m special in that I’ve had a long run (as a star) and I’m still here,” Turner told reporters in Bombay. Merchant said he had taken Turner to the southern state of Kerala and other parts of the country. “This will enrich her experience to understand this country more and give a better perspective about her role in our film,” he told AFP. “She has universal appeal. Wherever I have been, she is known. That is the reason I chose her do do this film, and I am happy she agreed,” he said. Turner is due to play the role of the Hindu Goddess, Shakti, who gives people power and energy to survive, said Merchant. Turner, who has retired from the stage, told reporters she did not miss live performing any more. “The epitome of my career was when I could fill a stadium with 190,000 people, but now I’m ready to move on to another kind of performance,” she was quoted by the Times of India as saying. Shooting for the film will begin early next year.