Coronavirus: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan tests positive

One of India's most famous film actors, Amitabh Bachchan has tested positive for Kovid-19, he told his millions of Twitter followers.

  "I have tested Kovid, transferred to the hospital, the hospital informed the authorities, family and staff, awaiting results," he wrote.

  His son Abhishek later tweeted that he had tested positive.

  The 77-year-old Bachchan has been featured in 200 films since he became a star five decades ago.

  He and 44-year-old Abhishek were rushed to Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, and their son showed mild symptoms of both of them.

  The news agency ANI quoted a public relations officer for the hospital as saying that Amitabh is stable with mild symptoms and is currently in the hospital's isolation unit.

  He urged anyone, who was close to him in the last 10 days, to conduct the test.  Local media reported that the rest of the cast members of the Bachchan family - actors Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya - have returned negative coronovirus antigen test reports.

  Mumbai municipal authorities have since put up banners outside the actor's home in Mumbai, classifying it as a "control zone".

  This news has given a boost to the support of the pair on social media.  Actors included actress Sonam K. Ahuja and former India cricketer Irfan Pathan.

  "Dear Amitabh ji, I join the whole nation to wish you speedy recovery! After all, you are the role model of millions of people of this country, a distinguished superstar! We will all take good care of you. To get well soon  Congratulations."  "India's Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

 

  Image caption Bachchan has won several awards since emerging prominently in the 1970s

  Bachchan Snr has acted in hit films like Zanjeer and Sholay.  Since rising to fame in the 1970s, he has won numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards and 15 Filmfare Awards.  France has also honored its highest civilian award, the Legion of Honor, for her contribution to cinema.

  Outside of acting, Bachchan SNR had a brief stint in politics and was elected as a member of the Parliament of India in 1984 at the behest of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.  But he resigned after three years, disillusioned with a corruption scandal under Mr. Gandhi's government.

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  He was also a businessman, who founded Amitabh Bachchan Nigam in 1995 for event management and production of films.  After the venture failed, he went on to host the TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati - based on the UK game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?  - and has acted in more films since then.  His latest film was the comedy Gulabo Sitabho, released on Amazon.

  In recent months, he has been prominent in helping the government deliver its message in the fight against coronoviruses.

  India has seen a rapid increase in the number of coronovirus cases, with a total climb of about 821,000 on Saturday - the third largest caseloid in the world.  There have been complaints about the lack of both testing and frontline medical staff.