Amitabh Bachchan, one of India's best known movie stars, has tested positive for Covid-19 together with his actor son Abhishek Bachchan, and both been moved to a private hospital, the actors said late Saturday.
"I have tested Covid positive...shifted to hospital...hospital informing authorities...family and staff undergone tests, results awaited," Amitabh Bachchan, 77, said in a tweet.
His son Abhishek, 44, said in a tweet minutes later that he had also tested positive.
The Bollywood actors were admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.
Affectionately known as "Big B", Bachchan shot to stardom in the early 1970s on the back of roles in huge hit movies such as Zanjeer and Sholay.
His films still open to packed cinemas across India, but his new movie - comedy-drama Gulabo Sitabo - was released on Amazon's streaming service due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Bollywood recently resumed film shoots after a months-long hiatus following the imposition of a nationwide lockdown in India in late March.
But actors over the age of 65, such as Bachchan, are banned from set due to their vulnerability to the virus.
India's nationwide coronavirus toll rose Saturday to 820,916 cases - the third highest in the world - with 22,123 deaths.
Health workers have complained about severe staff shortages, with some senior doctors and nurses avoiding frontlines because of their risk of catching the virus.
As the death toll climbs, critics say the country is not testing enough - leaving many infections undiagnosed.
Amitabh Bachchan has been leading the way in the country's fight against the coronavirus, appearing in public service advertisements.
Millions of people revere Bachchan like royalty, hanging on his every word, seeking his blessings and congregating outside his Mumbai bungalow every year on October 11, his birthday.
Early in his acting life, Bachchan earned his reputation as India's "angry young man" for portraying violent heroes fighting an unjust system and injecting a new aggressive element into Bollywood movies, which had previously consisted of polite romances.
He joined the film industry in 1969 and has done over 200 movies.
The actor suffered a near-fatal injury during the shooting of an action scene on a film set in 1982 and was critically ill for several months.
In recent years, he returned as the celebrity host of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire - one of the most watched shows on Indian television.
Actors and other Bollywood colleagues have tweeted their wishes for his quick recovery.
Taapsee Pannu wrote, “And you shall be back to health n happiness soon!champ !”
Sonu Sood wrote, “Get well soon sir.”
“Sending you tons of love and best wishes...please take care...you ll be okay very soon!,” wrote Neha Dhupia.
The actor was last seen in Shoojit Sarkar’s Gulabo Sitabo, which released on Amazon Prime.
Two of his films, Jhund and Chehre are ready for release.
He is also working in Ayan Mukherji’s Brahmastra along with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
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