The Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar is to make his Bollywood debut.

Considered one of the world's greatest batsmen, Tendulkar will take a cameo role in a film about the miracles of Ganesh, the popular elephant-headed Hindu deity renowned in Hindu mythology as the creator and remover of obstacles.

"He will play a small role, as himself, either in a song sequence or in an actual scene," producer Rajiv Sanghvi told Reuters. According to Sanghvi, Tendulkar is a devotee of Ganesh and offered to be a part of the project for free.

Production on the feature, entitled Vighnaharta Shri Siddhivinayak, begins next month. Tendulkar will film his part after he returns from Sri Lanka, where he is currently touring with the Indian side.

The film is being produced by the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, which looks after a temple dedicated to Ganesh in Mumbai. "Sachin has been a regular at the temple for many years now and he never gives up an opportunity to show his devotion," said Subhash Mayekar, chairman of the trust.

The film will also feature a voiceover by Amitabh Bachchan, an icon of Bollywood cinema.