Ill Amitabh cancels Kolkata trip

Amitabh Bachchan, who resumed shooting on March 20 after about four months of rest following an intestinal operation, has cancelled a trip to Kolkata citing health problems.

Bachchan, 63, was scheduled to go to Kolkata on Saturday but backed out at the last minute.

"He has been shooting continuously for the past five days for Karan Johar's Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna and his make-up man Deepak Sawant's Bhojpuri film Ganga," a source on the sets of Sawant's film said. "Obviously, he has suffered from exhaustion. It is nothing serious but he wanted to rest."

Bachchan's family doctor Jayant Barve denied any knowledge of the star's illness and added that he did not know of any impending surgery (there have been some news reports that the movie star is supposed to undergo another surgery).

The actor had been hospitalised for more than 20 days after he was operated for diverticulitis of the small intestine on November 30 at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.

The actor's illness had led to consternation in the film and television industry, where projects worth nearly Rs 100 crore starring Bachchan were at stake. Apart from nearly half-a-dozen films, Bachchan has also signed for numerous ads and television shows.