MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is slated to play an ascetic who befriends Jesus of Nazareth in a forthcoming US film that centres on a legend that he visited India, reports Reuters.

The Aquarian Gospel by filmmaker Drew Heriot is about Jesus' life between the ages of 13 and 30, when legends have it he travelled through India, Tibet and Persia. The Gospels do not document this period in his life.

Heriot said that Sherawat had been the first choice to play the role of the ascetic in the $15-million film, set for release in 2009. "After viewing her work, we then saw interviews of her and were extremely impressed by her intelligence and her background," he told Reuters in an e-mail.

The actress said it would be a challenge to bring to life her character as a female yogi in The Aquarian Gospel.

"I find that in most mythological and spiritual film stories, women seem to be lacking any true wisdom or a sense of humour," she said in a statement released by her publicist. "I look forward to bringing both of those qualities to this character."

Sherawat created a stir in her Bollywood debut with multiple kissing scenes in Khwahish. She also played the role of an Indian princess in the Jackie Chan film The Myth.