Big B collects funds for Screwvala's foundation

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who recently wrapped up shooting for his new film "Bhoothnath Returns", has lent a helping hand to the underprivileged.

Early Thursday morning, he visited Raigad (a district in Maharashtra) to collect funds for former Disney UTV managing director Ronnie Screwvala's foundation Swades, which works towards empowering rural inhabitants.

"Having finished very late last night (Wednesday) at Lonavala and the 'Party with the Bhoothnath', getting to bed almost at 5 a.m. to be up again at 6 a.m. to leave for Raigad (district in Maharashtra), by helicopter an hour away, to visit at my insistence, the work that the Swades Foundation does for the rural inhabitants," Amitabh posted on srbachchan.tumblr.com Thursday.

The foundation is jointly run by Ronnie and his wife Zarine Screwvala. It focuses on empowering rural India through health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education and more.

For the 71-year-old thespian, "it has been a most humbling experience to be in the midst of the villagers and their life and expectations and what they build so diligently and passionately".

"I shall be joining them (Ronnie and Zarine) in this exercise to collect funds for the many activities and facilities they provide to the underprivileged," Big B further posted.

"We tend to forget and put aside the comforts we in the city enjoy...he daily essential needs - common and of the most basic nature. It is almost embarrassing to be in the privilege we are in," he added.

He is "astonished that the most elementary needs are missing among them. Yet they smile, exist and work continuously to better their condition".

"Remarkable," he commented.