Australian speedster Brett Lee, out of the ongoing cricket World Cup due to an ankle injury, is using his unscheduled break to build a platform for his post-retirement career in Bollywood.

Lee is spending a fortnight in India to meet with sponsors and negotiate a recording contract after the success of his previous album, shot during the Champions Trophy last year, with legendary singer Asha Bhosle.

"The focus is to build a platform for Brett to perform at Bollywood level after his career," said his manager Neil Maxwell.

"He doesn't want to be starting from scratch when he retires," he was quoted as saying by 'The Sydney Morning Herald'.

Lee, looking to finalise a music deal in next two months, will meet with record labels, appear on television and complete promotional commitments.

"On top of his own ambitions in film and music Brett is being positioned as a conduit between Australian businesses and the Indian corporate world," Maxwell said.

"The main thing is the language. Hindi is difficult to learn. It will probably take him two or three years to be speaking it confidently," he added.

But Lee has enlisted the services of a personal Hindi tutor. He is also developing relationships with Australian companies seeking to break into India, heightening his exposure in cricket's largest market.

Upon returning from India, Lee is scheduled to undergo a minor surgery on his injured ankle. His timeframe for a return to cricket remains unaltered.

Image: Brett Lee and singer Asha Bhosle attend a photocall on March 8 to promote their event at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

Photograph: Patrick Riviere/Getty Images

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