Bollywood icon out of ICU
2005-12-08 08:47
Mumbai - Bollywood movie legend Amitabh Bachchan is making a good recovery from bowel surgery at a Mumbai hospital and has been moved from intensive care, a hospital official said on Thursday.
"The actor is now in a stable condition and showing goods signs of recovery, but he will have to be in the hospital for the next few days," said a doctor at Lilavati Hospital where the actor was admitted last week.
The 63-year-old star, known as the "Big B", has been in intensive care since his operation on November 30 for diverticulitis.
The ailment involves bulging pouches on the outside of the colon that can lead to infection and sometimes rupture.
"He was moved out of intensive care yesterday (on Wednesday) and is being fed a liquid diet," said the doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Praying for swift recovery
Bachchan is the biggest name among the constellation of stars in Bollywood's prolific film industry and has a huge fan following in the movie-mad nation.
Fans have been gathering in groups across the nation to pray for his swift recovery.
When Bachchan is released, he will need more rest at home, the doctor at Lilavati Hospital said. Even when the star returns to work, he will have to slow down his frenetic pace, doctors say.
This has meant that film-makers now are busy looking at new production dates for Bachchan, who was filming at least five movies when he fell ill.
Bachchan has over 100 movies to his credit.
Familiar face on TV
He was first taken to hospital in New Delhi on November 28 complaining of abdominal pains before being flown to Mumbai, where he was carried on a stretcher into hospital looking weak.
In 1982 Bachchan almost died after suffering a serious stomach injury while shooting the action film Coolie.
On almost any of India's televisions channels, night or day, Bachchan can be seen gyrating to one of the song-and-dance routines that have made him famous.
Besides being a movie star, he is a familiar figure on Indian TV screens as the charismatic quizmaster of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?