Big B, 'Piku' team shoot at iconic Howrah Bridge

Ringed by a circle of admirers at the crack of dawn Friday, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan shot for "Piku" at the British-era Howrah Bridge here and thanked the local police for its efficient management.

The Bridge, Kolkata's iconic landmark that serves as a crucial gateway for the eastern metropolis and ferries hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day, was abuzz with a different kind of excitement Friday.

Big B was seen cruising in a car along the bridge with co-stars Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan during the filming.

They were greeted with loud cheers and waves.

"Up at 4 am .. at Howrah Bridge !! Sympathetic crowds, love and affection and the superb management of the local POLICE ! Thank you !," the 71-year-old actor tweeted.

Over the years, the bridge has become a symbol of Kolkata and featured in numerous films by Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Raj Kapoor, Roland Joffe and Mira Nair.

Shakti Samanta's Hindi film "Howrah Bridge" featuring the beautiful Madhubala was also a huge box office success.

The 26,500-tonne structure, which finds mention in Rudyard Kipling's works, was commissioned in 1943 replacing a pontoon bridge linking the two towns.

The steel behemoth, also known as Rabindra Setu, forms the crucial connect between the bustling eastern metropolis and Howrah district over the Hooghly river.

Shoojit Sircar's "Piku" has generated tremendous curiosity among the public and anticipations run high.